The Congo government is questioning Apple about the use of “blood minerals” from conflict zones in the country that could be smuggled into its supply chains. International lawyers representing Congo have sent letters to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and its French subsidiary, expressing concerns about human rights violations in the country’s troubled east. They have challenged Apple to show how it monitors its supply chains in a region where armed rebel groups operate and have been accused of mass killings of civilians.
Eastern Congo is one of the most mineral-rich regions in the world but is also the site of a huge humanitarian disaster, with millions of people displaced and affected by violence. Apple has a market value of around $2.6 trillion and has denied using minerals from mines and regions where human rights violations take place, saying it conducts business ethically and sources minerals responsibly. The Congo government, however, has suspicions that some of the minerals sourced by Apple, such as tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold, are being smuggled out of Congo to neighboring Rwanda and then infiltrated into the global supply chain.
In response to the accusations, Apple pointed to a company filing on conflict minerals, stating that they found no evidence that the smelters or refiners in their supply chain financed armed groups in the DRC or neighboring countries. The Congo government spokesperson expressed concern over illegal mining in Congo and called for clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies like Apple, particularly in light of allegations that Rwanda is presented as the supplier for many minerals while having few reserves of its own.
The Congo government has accused Rwanda of financing and directing armed rebel groups in Congo to help extract minerals illegally. The United Nations and Human Rights Watch have also reported on attacks by armed groups in the region, including killing and raping civilians. The lawyers for the Congo government have quoted a report by Global Witness claiming that Apple had previously applied few meaningful mitigation measures to avoid using smuggled minerals. The Congo government is seeking effective redress against end-users of blood minerals and is considering legal measures against Apple.
The lawyers representing Congo have asked Apple to respond to questions about its supply chain controls within three weeks and have compiled a report on the laundering of Congo’s minerals by Rwanda and private entities. This report will be made public in the coming month. The Congo government is seeking clarification on the sources of minerals used by major technology companies and is determined to hold end-users accountable for the use of blood minerals from the country. Tensions between Congo and Rwanda continue to flare, with accusations of illegal mineral extraction and involvement in financing armed groups in the region.
