The DRC has filed criminal complaints against Apple’s subsidiaries, claiming the tech giant is complicit in financing violence through the exploitation of "blood minerals," with the authorities assessing the evidence for further legal action.**
DR Congo Takes Legal Action Against Apple Over Conflict Minerals Allegations**
DR Congo Takes Legal Action Against Apple Over Conflict Minerals Allegations**
The Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Apple of utilizing conflict minerals sourced from armed groups in the region, prompting legal proceedings in France and Belgium.**
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has initiated legal action against Apple, alleging that the tech company is complicit in the use of conflict minerals from war-torn regions in the country. Lawyers representing the Congolese government have filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against Apple's subsidiaries, asserting that their supply chains are linked to armed groups controlling mines in eastern DRC.
In its 2023 supply chain review, Apple stated it continuously monitors its sourcing processes and implements measures to trace the origins of minerals. Authorities in France and Belgium are currently evaluating whether there is sufficient evidence to advance the legal proceedings.
The DRC's legal representatives characterized the minerals involved, notably tin, tantalum, and tungsten, as "blood minerals," claiming they are extracted from conflict-prone areas and subsequently sanitized through global supply chains. This practice allegedly contributes to ongoing cycles of violence by financing militant factions and leads to human rights violations, including child labor and environmental destruction.
While Apple has not commented specifically on the legal complaints, its recent report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission reiterated its commitment to avoid conflict minerals in its supply chain. The tech giant emphasized that it does not directly procure primary minerals and stated that all participants in its supply chain must undergo independent conflict minerals audits.
In 2023, Apple removed 14 smelting and refining operations that failed to comply with its responsible sourcing criteria. This controversy highlights the significant mineral wealth of eastern DRC, which has historically fueled violence and conflict, as various rights organizations have accused companies of inadvertently supporting armed groups.
Rwanda, often implicated in the transport of minerals from DRC, has dismissed the Congolese government's accusations against Apple, calling it a mere publicity endeavor and denying involvement in the sale of conflict minerals to the tech entity.
