RE:DisdainI disagree, the West tends to be anti-gold whereas the BRICS (Russia being a primary part) are leading the charge to de-dollarize. Russia is good for gold, not the opposite.
In general terms why are African nations starting to boot out the West? Because these nations are tired of being exploited by the neo-colonists.
BTG is a Canadian firm and at least comes off as being more palatable to foreign nations than would an American firm.
Not certain how this whole Mali episode plays out, but if BTG has to give up a portion of the largesse in order to avoid killing the goose that laid the golden egg, so be it.