Since Jan. 4, when Endeavour dismissed Sébastien de Montessus, the company’s shares have plummeted by over 23%.

Both the company and the former executive have kept the location and specific asset in question undisclosed.

Endeavour recently discovered the payment instruction during a review of acquisitions and disposals, an ongoing process. Over the last two years, the company has offloaded mines in Burkina Faso and its interest in an Ivory Coast gold project.

One of Endeavour’s pivotal assets, the Houndé gold mine, which commenced production in 2017, contributed to almost 30% of the 1.1 million ounces of gold produced by the company last year.

The mine, situated southwest of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, is presently inaccessible due to the blockage of the 250km paved highway leading to the site.