The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that international mining companies are likely to keep investing in Mali, one of Africa's most resource-rich countries, even though attacks on Saturday that killed the Defence Minister have increased concerns about supply routes. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says Mali is one of Africa's biggest producers of gold, lithium, uranium and copper. On Saturday, after rival insurgent groups demonstrated unprecedented co-ordination, an alliance of al-Qaeda-linked militants and separatist rebels killed Mali's Defence Minister, hit the capital's airport and drove Russian soldiers out of a desert town more than a thousand kilometres away. Already, Mali had become less attractive to international miners as the military-led government, dependent on mining for revenue after seizing power in 2021, changed the mining code. The reforms raised taxes and increased the amount of equity held by the state and reduced that held by international companies. Barrick regained operational control of its flagship Loulo-Gounkoto complex earlier this year after a near two-year standoff with the government. Allied Gold is in the process of selling its Mali operations to China's Zijin Mining Group.