00:00A judge in Mali has ordered the return of three metric tons of gold worth about $400 million to Canada's barrack mining.
00:09It was seized by a military helicopter in January from the country's Lulogunkoto complex, following a confiscation order by a judge.
00:17The seizure took place under Mali's new mining code introduced by the military-led government,
00:23which aims to strengthen the state's share of extractive revenues.
00:26Gold is a pillar of the national economy and represents more than 70% of its exports.
00:32The two sides reached an agreement last month to resolve their dispute over Barrack's operations in Mali after two years of negotiations.
00:40The company, Mali's leading gold operator, had suspended some operations after the seizure,
00:45saying the measure was contrary to existing contractual obligations.
00:49Barrack is reportedly set to regain control of Lulogunkoto next week.
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