Tech giant Apple has refuted accusations by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that it incorporates conflict minerals into its products.
Apple stated that earlier this year, it instructed suppliers to cease sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and neighboring Rwanda, where conflict has intensified. However, the company did not provide detailed evidence to support this claim.
The response follows lawsuits filed against Apple in France and Belgium by the Congolese government. Kinshasa accuses the company of profiting from “blood minerals” linked to war crimes and criminal networks in the region. Allegations include war crimes, money laundering, forgery, and deception.
The mineral-rich eastern DRC has long been plagued by violence involving rebel groups, some reportedly backed by Rwanda, and the Congolese army. According to UN experts and human rights organizations, some artisanal mines in the area are controlled by militants implicated in severe crimes, including massacres and sexual violence.
Kinshasa alleges Apple’s reliance on these minerals implicates the company in such atrocities.
While Apple’s statement about halting mineral sourcing has been cautiously welcomed by DRC legal representatives, they remain skeptical. The lawyers insist the lawsuits in Europe will continue and stress the need for independent verification of Apple’s supply chain reforms.
