Archive Dispute Raises Questions Over Control of Congo’s Mineral Knowledge

A disagreement between Royal Museum for Central Africa (AfricaMuseum) and KoBold Metals has sparked debate about who controls colonial-era geological records of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

KoBold, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, proposed supporting the digitisation of a vast archive of exploration reports and maps created during Belgium’s colonial rule. The company says the data could help identify deposits of critical minerals such as cobalt and copper.

AfricaMuseum declined the proposal, stating that the archive contains sensitive colonial-era material that should remain under public stewardship. The museum said it is already digitising the records through partnerships with academic and public institutions.

The dispute reflects a broader issue as demand for critical minerals grows: many historical archives documenting African resources remain in European institutions, raising questions about access, ownership, and control of geological data.

Sources: Reuters reporting by Clement Bonnerot, AfricaMuseum, KoBold Metals.