Canadian miner Barrick Gold said on Wednesday it had submitted an arbitration request to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, to settle a disagreement with Mali over its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine complex.

The operational environment in Mali has deteriorated, with Barrick employees unjustly imprisoned and gold exports halted.

Barrick Gold Corp. said Mali’s military junta has blocked shipments from the country’s largest gold mine and the company will need to halt operations at the site if they remain suspended.