The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of tech giant Apple, accusing the company of using conflict minerals in its supply chain. According to BBC reports, the complaints allege that minerals extracted from war-torn regions of eastern DR Congo are “laundered through international supply chains” and end up in Apple’s products.
The Allegations 📌
- Lawyers representing DR Congo argue Apple is complicit in financing armed groups that control mining operations in the region.
- Minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten—crucial for electronics—are allegedly sourced from conflict areas, fueling cycles of violence, child labor, and environmental destruction.
- They accuse Apple’s supply chain of being contaminated with “blood minerals.”