The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has accused Apple of utilizing minerals from its conflict-ridden eastern region unlawfully, as per lawyers representing the African nation.
The lawyers have issued a formal cease and desist notice to Apple, cautioning the tech giant of potential legal consequences if the alleged practice persists.
According to the Paris-based legal representatives of the DRC, Apple is acquiring minerals smuggled from the DRC into Rwanda, where they are laundered and integrated into the global supply chain.
Responding to inquiries, Apple referred to its 2023 annual corporate report, stating that its due diligence efforts found no evidence that any smelters or refiners in its supply chain directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or neighboring countries.
The mineral-rich Great Lakes region of the DRC has faced ongoing violence since the 1990s, with recent tensions escalating in late 2021 when M23 rebels began reclaiming territory.
The DRC, along with the UN and Western nations, accuses Rwanda of supporting rebel groups, including M23, to gain control over the region’s abundant mineral resources—a claim denied by Kigali.
The lawyers representing the DRC allege various human rights violations at mineral sites supplying Apple, including sexual violence, armed attacks, and pervasive corruption.
Macs, iPhones, and other Apple products are described as tainted by the suffering of the Congolese people.
French lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, along with lawyer Robert Amsterdam, sent the formal notice to Apple’s subsidiaries in France and its US headquarters.
They argue that Apple’s reliance on suppliers sourcing minerals from Rwanda, which has exploited the DRC’s resources for nearly three decades, is problematic.
The DRC possesses significant reserves of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold—minerals crucial for producing smartphones and electronic devices.
Efforts by Apple to ethically source minerals are criticized as inadequate by the lawyers.
Apple appears to rely heavily on its suppliers’ vigilance and commitment to its code of conduct, according to the lawyers, who also question the credibility of the Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) certification, a program aimed at ensuring conflict-free minerals in the DRC.
Global Witness, a British NGO, has accused ITSCI of contributing to the laundering of conflict minerals, child labor, trafficking, and smuggling in the DRC.
Apple isn’t the sole major company implicated, as Tesla, Intel, and Samsung also depend on ITSCI.
The DRC’s formal notice to Apple includes inquiries about minerals used in Apple products and demands a response within three weeks.
Legal action remains an option, according to the lawyers.
The growing demand for cobalt and copper for clean energy has led to severe human rights abuses in eastern DRC, including forced evictions and sexual assault, as reported by Amnesty International in 2023.
M23 controls significant portions of North Kivu, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Goma, where over a million displaced individuals are living in dire conditions.
The lawyers emphasize the responsibility of major tech manufacturers like Apple in ensuring ethical mineral sourcing to prevent human rights violations.
