Apple store in New York, USA.Photo: depositphotos.
PARIS, 17 December – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has initiated criminal cases against the US technology corporation Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals in its supply chain. The complaints were filed with the judicial authorities of France and Belgium, Time Ukraine Israel reports, citing Reuters.
Minerals that fuel conflict
The Congo is a key supplier of the so-called 3T minerals – tin, tantalum and tungsten – which are essential for the production of electronics, including smartphones and computers. However, according to the UN and human rights organisations, some of these resources are extracted from mines controlled by armed groups that finance their activities through smuggling and abuse of the local population.
Apple denies any direct link to mining and claims that it conducts thorough vetting of its suppliers. In a statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that the minerals in its supply chain did not finance armed groups in Congo or neighbouring countries.
Direct accusations
International lawyers representing Congo claim that Apple uses minerals illegally mined in Congo and laundered through international supply chains. This, in their view, makes the corporation an accomplice to war crimes.
The complaints were filed against Apple’s French and Belgian subsidiaries, including Apple France, Apple Retail France and Apple Retail Belgium. The allegations include concealment of war crimes, laundering of illegally obtained resources, and manipulative statements about the “cleanliness” of supply chains.
Historical and legal responsibility
Belgian Congolese lawyer Christophe Marchand stressed that Belgium has a moral obligation to support the trial because of the colonial past, when Congo’s resources were actively plundered.
The background of the conflict
The conflicts in the eastern regions of Congo, which have been ongoing since the 1990s, have resulted in millions of casualties and displaced persons. The main source of funding for the militants remains the trade in minerals, which is often smuggled through neighbouring countries, including Rwanda.
Criticism of certification schemes
The key argument of the Congo’s complaints is that Apple is accused of using the discredited ITSCI certification scheme, which was supposed to guarantee the “purity” of minerals. Lawyers claim that ITSCI helped conceal the origin of minerals from conflict zones.
Apple mentioned ITSCI as a reliable partner several times in its 2023 report, despite the decision of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to remove ITSCI from the list of approved schemes.
Congolese representative Robert Amsterdam described the legal move as the “first salvo” in the fight against international corporations that authorities believe contribute to the illegal use of Congo’s resources. France and Belgium, known for their emphasis on corporate responsibility, will now decide whether to launch investigations and bring criminal charges against Apple.
