The company has paid $80m (A$122.97m) to the government from cash reserves, with another $80m over the coming months.

The Australian miner agreed to settle a tax dispute as it seeks to secure the release of its chief executive and two other employees detained in the West African country.

An Australian mining company, Resolute Mining, says it will pay Mali's military government $160m (£126m) to settle a tax dispute, after the company's British boss and two other staff were unexpectedly detained 10 days ago.