Sept 21 (Reuters) - Gold miner B2Gold on Monday said the political situation in Mali was improving, after a military coup in the West African country last month spooked investors in B2Gold and other Mali-focused mining companies.

"The political situation is headed in the right direction," CEO Clive Johnson told the Gold Forum Americas conference.

"The new military leadership is ... working closely with the business community and others to make this a seamless transition," he said, adding that the leadership has promised elections within 18 months. (Reporting by Helen Reid and Jeff Lewis; editing by Jonathan Oatis)