Belgium Blocks Bezos-Backed Mining Firm From Congo Colonial Archives

Belgian Museum Blocks US Firm's Access To DRC Mining Files

Belgium's AfricaMuseum is the country's biggest dedicated to the Congo, displaying millions of colonial-era objects and zoological specimens. But it also holds the archives from the 1960s and 70s of Belgian companies that ceased operations in the former colony, including geological maps.

Belgian museum, US mining company at odds over colonial-era Congo archive

A U.S. mining company backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and ​Bill Gates is in a tangle with Belgium's AfricaMuseum over who should digitise antique maps of what is now ‌the Democratic Republic of Congo in the museum's archive.

Bezos and Gates-backed firm fights for DRC’s mineral data in exchange for more investments

The dispute between the US mining firm, Kobold Metals, backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, and Belgiums AfricaMuseum over the digitization of colonial-era maps of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be intensifying.

KoBold used AI to find copper — now investors are piling in to the tune of $537M

The Bill Gates-backed startup uses AI to comb through massive data sets in an attempt to find more critical minerals.

Belgium Blocks U.S. Firm KoBold From Colonial-Era Geological Archives Sought by DRC

Belgium blocks KoBold access to DR Congo colonial geological archive Digitization deal signed July 2025 remains unimplemented Dispute

In Congo, US mining company fights for subsoil data held in Belgium museum

Kobold Metals, a US company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, wants to peruse the data for decisions on where to put their money.