russia has been making inroads in the region, whether it's through defence or diplomacy or media, and there was this fear of perhaps by diplomats of compromising that growing relationship. but there's also the issue of gold, isn't there? gold that russia is hoovering up in various countries in africa and taking it back, which protects it against the sanctions that the western countries are imposing? a lot of commentary does look at the fact that russia's relationship with various countries, whether it's sudan, where it is establishing a naval base and also in part the gold mining industry, where it has established mercenary presence in some of the gemstone mining sites, or even speculation in mali that russia could be getting concessions from some of the gold work, that russia's relationship with african countries is extractive and exploitative. but there is some growing support in many urban areas. we've seen pro—russia protests,