Authorities in Mali have arrested four senior employees of a Canadian mining company as the military regime in the West African nation continues to detain workers to pressure companies in its crucial mining sector to pay millions in additional taxes.

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.

The ongoing disputes between the Malian government and international mining companies continue to intensify as Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD,TSX:ABX) recently confirmed four Malian employees from its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex had been arrested.