Last month, the Malian government detained three executives of Australian mining company Resolute Mining involved in the gold industry. It requires the company to pay $160 million in taxes it owes the Malian government.

Foreign media quickly hyped the news, calling the arrest “unexpected” and claiming the executives were “imprisoned.” This language has clear elements of a neocolonial framework that seeks to portray the legitimate exercise of African sovereignty as criminal.

The incident and the media coverage it received reflects the reality of neocolonial resource grabbing that continues to plague African countries. Mali’s move may be demonized by the media, but it is part of an emerging pattern of African countries demanding renegotiation of unfair contracts. If it gains momentum, the trend could inspire other countries to take such measures against foreign companies profiting from Africa’s natural resources.

Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, but its citizens are among the poorest, with nearly half the population living below the poverty line. The national literacy rate is only 33%, while access to basic sanitation is 45% and access to electricity is 48%. The country has struggled with drought, climate change and malnutrition.

Gold accounts for approximately 80% of Mali’s total exports, but the economic benefits to the Malian people remain disproportionately small. For decades, foreign mining companies have captured vast amounts of wealth while delivering minimal benefits to host countries. Reports show that Mali loses approximately US$580 million annually due to illicit financial flows and corporate tax avoidance.

The unfair exploitation of Mali’s mineral resources is a legacy of European colonialism. Mali suffered from French colonial rule for 68 years. During this period, France developed resource extraction practices that benefited French industry with little regard for local development. One of the main resources plundered by the French was Malian gold.

After Mali gained independence, this extractive arrangement was transferred from French colonial authorities to foreign (mainly Western) companies. They make huge profits from Malian gold but pay minimal royalties and taxes to the Malian government.

The recent tax dispute with Resolute Mining is part of Mali’s broader efforts to reform the mining industry and renegotiate unfair contracts. Recent changes to its mining regulations are aimed at increasing state revenue and ownership.

Mali also asked another foreign mining company, Canada’s Barrick Gold Corp., to pay taxes. Malian authorities accused the company of owing $500 million in taxes and issued an arrest warrant for its chief executive.

Rather than being recognized as moves toward economic justice, these reforms were dismissed in Western narratives as destructive or authoritarian. This framing obscures Mali’s moral imperative to derive greater benefit from its resources.

Unsurprisingly, the British and Australian governments intervened on behalf of Resolute Mining to lobby for the release of detained executives. These actions illustrate how Western powers are prioritizing corporate interests in Africa over the enforcement of local laws. By mobilizing diplomatic resources to protect alleged tax evaders, these governments reinforce the narrative that African governance is illegitimate. This interference reflected the colonial approach of foreign economic interests overriding domestic economic and social interests.

Despite foreign pressure and biased media reports, the Malian government succeeded in getting Resolute Mining to pay its dues. It will also be able to update mining protocols to increase its share of mining revenue.

The operation in Mali is no exception. Across the continent, countries are taking steps to renegotiate unfair deals with foreign companies and governments. Senegal, for example, has begun renegotiating contracts in its mining, oil and gas sectors, while Niger has seized uranium mines run by a French conglomerate. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso has threatened to revoke the gold mining licenses of some foreign companies.

These efforts reflect a growing push by African countries to regain control of their resources and governance. They are part of a broader struggle for respect, fairness and self-determination by African countries.

Mali’s confrontation with foreign mining companies highlights the urgent need for African countries to assert their sovereignty and demand fairness in resource extraction. While Western media may characterize such actions as destabilizing, this narrative is merely intended to protect foreign interests. Instead, global audiences should celebrate these efforts as a step toward economic justice.

African countries must unite to support each other’s demands for equitable resource management and challenge neocolonial practices. This is not just a struggle in Mali, but a struggle for dignity and prosperity in countries across the continent.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.