Barrick Gold confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that four employees from its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex had been charged and were awaiting trial after their arrest on Monday night.

Four employees of Canada's Barrick Gold have been charged and detained pending trial in Mali, the company said on Tuesday, as the military-led government strives to raise more money from mining companies.

Authorities in Mali have arrested four senior officials of Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold, the company said. The workers are employed at Barrick Gold’s Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in the country. They have been charged and detained pending trial.