The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has filed criminal complaints against subsidiaries of Apple in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using minerals allegedly “looted” from conflict regions in its supply chain. The move, announced on Tuesday by international lawyers representing the Central African nation, claims that Apple is complicit in crimes committed by armed groups controlling mines in the volatile eastern part of DR Congo.
The legal action centers on allegations that Apple’s gadgets are manufactured with tin, tantalum, and tungsten, minerals sourced from the DR Congo’s conflict zones. According to the legal team, these minerals are “pillaged” from the country’s war-torn regions and “laundered” through international supply chains. The statement also asserts that Apple’s practices have fueled ongoing violence by funding militias and terrorist groups, contributing to child labor and environmental devastation.
“These activities have exacerbated a cycle of violence and conflict, destabilizing the region,” the legal team said. The complaint further accused Apple of engaging in “deceptive commercial practices,” assuring consumers that its supply chains are free from exploitation and conflict minerals.
The DR Congo, a former Belgian colony, is the world’s leading producer of cobalt, a critical component in batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. The country has long struggled with violence, particularly in the eastern region, which is rife with armed groups, including M23 militants, who are fighting the government for control of resources.
Earlier this year, the law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, which is supporting the DR Congo’s legal action, released the “Blood Minerals” report. The report claimed that several companies and armed groups are smuggling minerals mined in the DR Congo out through neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, integrating them into the global supply chain. The firm had informed major technology companies, including Apple, Intel, Sony, and Motorola, about the origins of the metals being sourced from these conflict areas.
In May, the firm warned Apple of potential legal action unless the company responded to questions about whether metals for its products were being sourced from troubled areas in DR Congo’s eastern provinces. Apple’s failure to provide detailed answers to these inquiries reportedly led to the filing of the criminal complaints in France and Belgium on Tuesday.
William Bourdon, one of the lawyers representing DR Congo, described the legal action as a “first step” in holding Apple accountable for its role in perpetuating the exploitation of resources in Africa. “This is about one of the biggest players in the tech industry profiting at the cost of severe human rights abuses and crimes in the region,” Bourdon said.
In response, Apple strongly rejected the allegations. The company stated that it has taken steps to address the situation, telling its suppliers to suspend sourcing minerals from DR Congo and Rwanda as armed clashes escalated in the region earlier this year. “We recognize the situation in the region is very challenging, and we have increased our support to organizations that are doing vital work to help communities,” Apple said, according to Reuters.
