(Reuters) - Mali's government has begun enforcing a provisional order to seize gold stock at Barrick Gold's Loulo-Gounkoto site, the Canadian mining company said in a note to staff in the West African country.

A Barrick employee in Mali confirmed the authenticity of the letter seen by Reuters. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the employee said it was sent to staff on Sunday.

(Reporting by Portia Crowe and Fadimata Kontao; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by David Goodman)