The scramble for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mineral wealth has entered a new and highly publicized phase, as Kobold Metals, a U.S.-based mining firm backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, seeks access to colonial-era maps held by Belgium’s AfricaMuseum.
The dispute revolves around the digitization of records created during Belgium’s colonial rule over the DRC, and highlights the tension between private investment ambitions and the public stewardship of scientific and historical archives.
Kobold Metals, which raised $537 million in January 2025 to expand its exploration of critical minerals, argues that access to these maps is essential for understanding the location and scale of the country’s mineral deposits.
The company claims that the data would help accelerate investment, support exploration activities, and contribute to broader economic development in the DRC. Benjamin Katabuka, Director General for Kobold Metals in the DRC, told Reuters, “We scan, we digitize the documents, and make them accessible to the public immediately. This country needs more investment in exploration, and we need the data to be available to the public to make that happen.”
However, AfricaMuseum, located in Tervuren, just outside Brussels, has resisted giving Kobold control over the archives. Museum director Bart Ouvry emphasized that delegating the management of public scientific collections to private companies would contravene institutional ethics and undermine the integrity of the archives.
The museum also noted that both it and the Congo National Geological Service are undertaking a comprehensive digitization effort, funded by the European Union, which is expected to take several years to complete. Once digitized, the data will be accessible to both Belgium and the DRC under Belgian and European legal frameworks.
The collection itself spans roughly 500 metres of shelving and includes handwritten, fragile, and sometimes incomplete inventories that meticulously document how the DRC’s mineral wealth was previously surveyed and exploited. These archives are considered pivotal for companies and researchers seeking to understand the historical patterns of mineral distribution, including deposits of cobalt, copper, and other critical resources vital for global industries.
Belgium asserts sovereignty over the records until the digitization process is complete and has stressed that the archives are explicitly excluded from the 2022 Belgian law that mandates the return of colonial-era holdings.
Kobold Metals has proposed assisting the DRC with the digitization process, offering both technical expertise and financial support. The company claims that this collaboration is in line with requests from the Congolese government and would speed up access to the data, allowing exploration activities to proceed more efficiently.
Kobold has also secured agreements with the DRC government to apply for exploration permits, which the company argues could bring additional investment, infrastructure development, and employment opportunities to the region.
Nevertheless, AfricaMuseum and Belgian authorities remain cautious. They warn that allowing a single private corporation to control the digitization process could confer an unfair financial advantage and compromise the public mission of the archives.
The museum has already begun preparatory work, with a team of scientists starting digitization in February 2026 and archivists joining in March. Officials caution that full classification and digitization may take many years before the records are publicly accessible.
The standoff between Kobold Metals and AfricaMuseum highlights broader questions about post-colonial resource management, international investment, and sovereignty. While private companies push for faster access to valuable geological data to support commercial operations, former colonial powers insist on careful stewardship of public scientific assets, balancing transparency, legal compliance, and ethical considerations.
The dispute also reflects the growing influence of global tech and investment giants in Africa’s resource sector. With backing from figures such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, Kobold Metals exemplifies the increasing role of private capital in driving exploration and technological innovation, even as it intersects with sensitive historical and political issues.
How the situation unfolds could set important precedents for access to historical scientific data, public-private collaboration, and responsible investment in Africa’s mineral-rich regions.
Source:BIA