Africa

KoBold Metals, a startup backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has approached the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) government with an offer to develop one of the world's largest hard rock lithium mines. The mining startup looks to take over the disputed mining license for the Roche...

The United States is considering a potential partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to secure access to critical minerals, following discussions initiated by a senior Congolese official. According to the Financial Times, the DRC proposed a minerals-for-security deal, offering...

Chinese state-owned miner MMG has mothballed production at its cobalt processing plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo just 15 months after starting the operation. What Happened: According to Bloomberg, the Chinese miner cited "unfavorable cobalt market conditions" as the primary reason for...

Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD) is getting closer to resolving a prolonged dispute with Mali's military junta over the country's mining code reforms. Seeking to maximize state revenue, the junta demanded higher royalties and a greater share of profits from foreign operators. The situation gradually...

Building a mine is a notoriously difficult endeavor. It is a long, often multi-decade process involving prospecting, soil sampling, environmental studies, and billions of dollars worth of capital expenditures before production starts. For companies involved, it is a generational commitment that...

Mali's changes to the mining code are starting to impact its commodity production. After the military-led government implemented changes that sought to increase royalties from 20% to 35%, gold production decreased by 23% in 2024, reaching 51 metric tons. Reuters reported that, per the country's...

The United Nations issued a warning about the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fears that the violence could spread across the region. What Happened: Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, addressed the Human Rights Council, calling for immediate...

On Thursday, Leading rough diamond producer De Beers revised its guidance, slashing the anticipated production by 31% from 30 million to 20 million—23 million carats. The firm has also slashed the 2026 plan by 18% as the diamond market continues to face challenges, including weaker demand from...

Gold has been one of the best-performing assets of 2025. The precious metal reached an intraday high of $2,882 per ounce as investors sought a haven amid geopolitical, economic, and supply-side factors. The escalating global trade war, particularly the tit-for-tat tariff exchange between the U.S....

Africa's gaming industry is exploding, and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) might want to take notes. A new report from Carry1st and Newzoo shows the continent's gaming revenue hit $1.8 billion in 2024, surging 12.4% year-over-year, according to Techpoint Africa. But here's the kicker—90% of that...

B2Gold Corp (AMEX:BTG) announced its 2024 production of 804,778 gold ounces, aligning with the lower end of its revised guidance. For 2025, the company is targeting a notable increase, forecasting production between 970,000 to 1,06 million ounces. The Canadian firm expects higher-grade ore from the...

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) warned about a potential suspension of operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in Mali following the Malian government's decision to restrict gold shipments. The West African nation's ruling junta extended its export ban to include on-site gold stocks, which...

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints against Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), accusing the company of using conflict minerals. The complaints are filed against Apple's subsidiaries in France and Belgium, per a Reuters report. What happened? Lawyers representing the Congolese...

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) has warned it may suspend operations in Mali if the government continues to block gold shipments from its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, one of its largest operational gold mines. Over the past months, the situation in Mali has escalated as the ruling military junta...

Mali's military junta has issued an arrest warrant for Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD) CEO Mark Bristow, further straining relationships with foreign mining companies. Reuters reported that the warrant accuses Bristow of money laundering and financial violations. Barrick, which operates the Loulo-Gounkoto...