In a dramatic twist that could shake the global gold industry, Mali has issued an arrest warrant for Mark Bristow, the CEO of Barrick Gold Corporation, one of the world’s largest mining companies. According to local news outlets, the West African nation accuses Bristow of money laundering and breaking financial rules that govern the region.

Cheick Abass Coulibaly, the general manager of Barrick’s mining operations in Mali, is also facing arrest. These charges come amid a heated dispute b...