What if the Mali Empire didn't lose it's gold mines?

Portugese traders were motivated to sail around west Africa to trade with Mali for it's gold. When Mali lost it's gold mines to the Songhai, they began selling slaves to the portugese. What if Mali prevents Songhai or any other empire from seizing it's gold mines and thus the slave trade is severely reduced? How does this affect the colonization of America since an important source of slaves to work in plantations is gone?
 
They sold slaves and ivory even when there was gold. It was never just one trade commodity. Mali had a constant need to import salt and manufactured goods and gold production could never be enough.
 
Portugese traders were motivated to sail around west Africa to trade with Mali for it's gold. When Mali lost it's gold mines to the Songhai, they began selling slaves to the portugese. What if Mali prevents Songhai or any other empire from seizing it's gold mines and thus the slave trade is severely reduced? How does this affect the colonization of America since an important source of slaves to work in plantations is gone?

The Mali balance of trade takes a noticable dip as the Europeans look elsewhere for slaves (who's value is going up) and the New World gold and silver soon to enter Europe causes a noticable dip in the value of its counterpart
 
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