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In a pivotal step for African mineral markets and U.S. strategic interests, African Discovery Group, Inc. (AFDG) has signed a term sheet to acquire Société Grabin Mining SAS, which holds the Butembo Copper Exploration Licence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The deal, revealed in New York on October 6, 2025, marks AFDG’s bid to build a long-term copper enterprise across Africa.
The timing aligns with the U.S. government’s recent decision to include copper in its draft list of strategic minerals, highlighting the metal’s central role in the global shift to electrification. As global demand for copper is projected to double by 2035, driven by electric vehicles and renewable infrastructure, access to new reserves is becoming increasingly critical. Energy expert Daniel Yergin has called copper “the linchpin of the energy transition.”
Following the acquisition, the restructured company is expected to rebrand, relocate, and pursue a listing on the NASDAQ, which would make it the first DRC-based firm to go public in the U.S. AFDG shareholders will retain a minority stake.
This move reflects broader U.S.–DRC economic cooperation. The upcoming USA–DRC Economic Forum in Washington builds on initiatives launched during the August 2025 investment summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Félix Tshisekedi. U.S. officials have emphasized the importance of private American investment in the DRC’s mining sector to promote mutual prosperity and regional stability.
The DRC remains a global mining powerhouse, accounting for 65% of new copper reserves announced in 2023. Companies like Ivanhoe Mines and KoBold Metals, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, have already established major operations in the country. The World Bank values the DRC’s untapped mineral resources at approximately $24 trillion.
The deal will be overseen by incoming CEO Andrew Groves, known for leading several high-profile mining exits in Africa, and Board appointee Aldo Cesano, a veteran of African mining operations. EAS Advisors LLC will advise on the transaction, which is expected to close in late 2025, subject to due diligence and financing.
The Butembo project also signals a shift towards copper exploration in the DRC’s eastern basin. Supporting this, a new infrastructure initiative—the Kisangani–Bukavu corridor—aims to unlock access to eastern mining regions, funded by toll revenues from the Kolwezi–Solwezi route.
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AFDG founder Alan Kessler called the acquisition a reflection of intersecting global forces—from decarbonization to AI-driven infrastructure—converging with Africa’s rising role in the next industrial era. More than a commercial deal, the move underscores a growing emphasis on equitable partnerships and African-led development in global resource supply chains.