KoBold says it has yet to gain access to the papers, which include geological records.
But the museum plans to carry out the digitisation itself, and Belgian officials say they cannot grant exclusive access to an overseas private entity, despite its agreement with the Congolese government.
Courtesy AfricaMuseum, Tervuren
A Belgian government spokesperson said exchanges between the two countries were “sustained and ongoing”. The records were “federal public archives” and Belgium “cannot grant privileged or exclusive access to a foreign private company with which it has no contractual relationship”.
The case highlights unresolved tensions over colonial accountability in Belgium’s relationship with the DR Congo, whose vast natural resources have become a focus of western efforts to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals.
According to De Morgen, a Belgian daily, Jeff Bezos is also involved in this.
According to more Belgian media, the Belgian government opposes the deal between the government in Kinshasa and KoBold.
"The data must be made available in accordance with Belgian and European regulations," said Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés), Minister of Digitalization and Science Policy. She added that this must be done within a "scientific, non-exclusive, and non-privileged framework."
Belgian-Congolese critic Nadia Nsayi wonders:
- Is it normal that Congo’s geological archives are still in Belgium 65 years after its independence? The AfricaMuseum, which has existed for 128 years, has been digitizing these archives for two years. Three to four million documents. How long will this digitization take?
