DR Congo’s mineral-rich east has seen years of conflict often fueled by the underground [AFP]
The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of technology company Apple, accusing it of using conflicting minerals.
Acting on behalf of the Congolese government, the lawyers revealed that Apple is complicit in crimes committed by armed groups that control some of the mines in eastern DR Congo.
Apple said it “strongly disputes” the claims and that it is “strongly committed to responsible sourcing”.
Authorities in France and Belgium are now considering whether there is enough evidence to take legal action.
In a statement, DR Congo lawyers said Apple’s purchase was contaminated with “blood minerals”.
They suspect that tin, tantalum and tungsten are taken from conflict zones and “laundered through international supply chains”.
“These operations have fueled a cycle of violence and conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups and contributing to child labor and environmental degradation.”
the highest quality suppliers in the industry”.
As the regional conflict escalated earlier this year we notified our suppliers that their smelters and refiners must stop sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and Rwanda.
“We took this step because we were concerned that it would no longer be possible for independent auditors or industry assurance mechanisms to work with the rigor required to meet our high standards.”
Eastern DR Congo is a major source of minerals and its global drought has fueled wars there for decades.
Rights groups have long suspected that large amounts of minerals from illegal mines, as well as from facilities run by armed groups, are transported to neighboring Rwanda and end up on our phones and computers.
Rwanda has in the past described the Congolese government’s legal action against Apple as a media stunt.
It has denied selling conflict minerals to a technology company.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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