The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has accused Apple of using minerals in its products that are illegally mined from the country’s eastern regions and associated with conflict. An international group of lawyers represented by Amsterdam & Partners sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22, 2024, stating that Apple’s supply chain is “contaminated with the country’s conflict minerals.”
Congo accuses Apple of using conflict minerals
The lawyers gave Apple three weeks to respond to their questions and also sent similar letters to Apple’s subsidiaries in France. These letters express concerns that the minerals used in the company’s products are illegally extracted and contribute to fueling conflicts in the region.
Elements like tin, tungsten, and tantalum, known as so-called “conflict minerals,” are often extracted with violence, child labor, and environmental destruction in eastern Congo. Revenue from the illegal mining trade is used to finance armed groups and terrorist organizations. This situation keeps the local population in a cycle of poverty and violence, while the use of these minerals by international companies results in serious human rights violations and environmental damage.
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Apple, in a report published in early 2024, claimed that it found no connection between its supply chain and armed groups in Congo. However, the lawyers stated that Apple’s report lacks “concrete, verifiable evidence” and suggested that the minerals, which major tech companies say come from Rwanda, are actually sourced from Congo.
The DRC government commissioned Amsterdam & Partners in September 2023 to examine the supply chain for 3T minerals within the framework of the country’s laws and international law. This examination indicates that companies like Apple need to take serious steps toward transparency and responsibility in their supply chains.
The increasing pressure for companies to establish supply chains sensitive to human rights and environmental impacts could shape the future strategies of Apple and other technology giants. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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