The Democratic Republic of the Congo has filed a criminal case against Apple, accusing the tech giant’s European subsidiaries of illegally using “blood minerals” in their supply chain.
The DRC claims that Apple bought contraband materials from its conflict-affected eastern regions and from Rwanda.
These materials, allegedly mined illegally, are said to have been incorporated into global supply chains, eventually ending up in tech devices like smartphones and computers.
According to lawyers representing the DRC, Apple’s French and Belgian units also used deceptive practices to convince consumers that their supply chains were clean. The DRC has lodged complaints in both Paris and Brussels, with accusations including war crimes, money laundering, forgery, and deception.
The DRC’s Washington-based lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, said, “Color Apple red, and not green. It is a trillion-dollar company that must be assumed to know the consequences of its actions. Enough with denials of accountability and hiding behind the false narrative of supply chain defenses!”
The DRC’s legal team had previously contacted Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple subsidiaries in France last April to ask about the potential inclusion of minerals from conflict zones in the company’s supply chain. However, they received no substantial responses.
Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon called the legal complaints “a first step towards making one of the biggest players in tech accountable for its policy of endless enrichment at the cost of the most serious of crimes staining African supply chains.”
Christophe Marchand, a lawyer in Brussels, emphasized that these complaints are of great public interest as European countries, consumers, and NGOs are increasing scrutiny on international supply chains.
The lawyers argue that the scale of the alleged activities has caused “unfathomable harm and suffering” for civilians, fueling violence, supporting militias and terrorist groups, and contributing to forced child labor and environmental destruction. They also referenced investigations by the United Nations, the US State Department, and organizations like Global Witness to support their claims.
The legal team has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging a dialogue on the EU’s role in holding companies accountable and ending armed violence in sub-Saharan Africa’s mineral supply chains.
Apple, however, has denied the allegations. Last year, the company stated that it had “no reasonable basis for concluding” that its products contain illegally exported minerals from conflict zones. It maintains that it thoroughly checks the origin of the materials used in its products.
Rwanda, which is also named in the case, dismissed the claims as baseless. Spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said, “This is just the latest blow by the DRC government, which is constantly seeking to divert attention to Rwanda with false accusations.”
The DRC’s eastern region has been plagued by violence for decades, particularly since the 1990s, with tensions rising after a new offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in late 2021 in North Kivu. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of using M23 to gain control of the resource-rich area.
