The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has filed a criminal case against Apple’s subsidiaries in Belgium and France, accusing the tech giant of illegally using conflict minerals, often referred to as “blood minerals,” in its products.
According to the DRC government, Apple is implicated in crimes such as war crimes, money laundering, forgery, and deceptive practices. The accusations stem from allegations that the company sourced minerals from conflict-ridden regions in eastern DRC and neighboring Rwanda. These areas are known for illegal mining operations often controlled by armed groups involved in atrocities, including massacres, mass rapes, and looting.
The DRC’s legal representatives allege that these illegally mined minerals were integrated into global supply chains and used in Apple devices. They also claim that Apple engages in misleading practices to reassure consumers about the integrity of its supply chain.
While Apple maintains that it does not directly source raw materials and thoroughly verifies their origins, the DRC argues otherwise, accusing the company of complicity in the ongoing violence in the mineral-rich region. Rwanda has dismissed these claims as baseless.
Eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict between rebel factions and the Congolese military since the 1990s, with the exploitation of its vast mineral resources often fueling the violence. This latest case seeks to bring global attention to the issue and hold corporations accountable for their supply chain practices.
