Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Apple of using minerals from ‘illegally exploited’ mines

Lawyers mandated by Kinshasa assert, in a formal notice, that the American firm uses minerals “smuggled” into Rwanda.

The Congolese state accuses the Apple group of using minerals in its products “illegally exploited”which would come from “Congolese mines“within which “many human rights are violated”according to documents consulted by AFP. “It appears from the file” delivered by Kinshasa “that the Apple company uses strategic minerals purchased in Rwanda in its products”say the lawyers mandated by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to draft a formal notice, before the initiation of legal proceedings.

“Rwanda is a central player in the illegal exploitation of minerals, and in particular the exploitation of tin and tantalum in the DRC, they assure. After their illegal extraction, these minerals are smuggled into Rwanda, where they are integrated into global supply chains.adds the formal notice.

Apple ordered to respond “within three weeks”

“These disputed minerals come largely from Congolese mines where many human rights are violated”, continue the lawyers. According to a report by the NGO The Enough Project published in 2015, “These mineral sites often appear to be controlled by armed groups who force, through violence and terror, civilians to work there and transport these minerals.” “Children are also forced to work in these mines”denounced this document.

This formal notice was sent to the two Apple subsidiaries in France by lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth. It is accompanied by a list of questions on “3T ores used in products” of the firm, to which he is asked to respond “within three weeks”. A letter was also sent to the American parent company of the tech giant. “All legal options are now on the table”added the lawyers mandated by the DRC.

Contacted by AFP, Apple cites its 2023 annual report on conflict minerals. He reported not having “found no reasonable basis to conclude that any of the 3TG (tin, tungsten, tantalum, gold) smelters or refineries determined to be part of our supply chain as of December 31, 2023 have, directly or indirectly, funded or benefited armed groups in the DRC or in a neighboring country.