Canadian miner Barrick Gold has signed a new agreement with the Malian government to end an almost two-year-old dispute over its mining assets in the West African country, four people familiar with the developments told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mali and Barrick Gold Corp.’s negotiations to end a protracted dispute over payments from the country’s biggest gold mine have been suspended, according to people familiar with the government’s position.

Mali is asking for a single payment of $197m, while Barrick is proposing a payment plan distributed over time.

Barrick Gold will resume operations at its shuttered Loulo-Gounkoto mine in Mali once authorities in the country allow it to resume gold shipments, CEO Mark Bristow said on Wednesday. The Toronto-based miner said it has been assured by Mali that gold worth about $245 million seized by authorities still belongs to the company,

Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) has reportedly reached an agreement with the Malian government after nearly two years of issues, resolving a prolonged conflict over its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex.