The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has lodged criminal complaints against Apple, alleging the company has unlawfully utilized conflict minerals, often referred to as “blood minerals.” These minerals are derived from illegal sources that exploit child labor and utilize the resulting funds to finance armed conflicts.
The complaints have been submitted in Belgium and France, as these nations have a commendable history in tackling corporate accountability cases.
Apple and Conflict Minerals
The primary minerals linked to human rights violations include tin, tantalum, tungsten—collectively known as 3T—and gold. Together, these are sometimes referred to as 3TG.
Apple does not directly procure these minerals; they are acquired along the supply chain by companies that manufacture components for the iPhone manufacturer. Nevertheless, Apple carries out audits to ensure its supply chain remains free from these concerns.
For instance, in 2019, Apple directed its suppliers to eliminate five smelters and refiners that did not pass this audit, stating it had no issues with the others.
Evidence Presented to Tim Cook in April
International legal representatives for the DRC claim they provided evidence to Apple earlier this year, indicating that conflict minerals may still be present within the company’s supply chain.
On April 22, Congo’s legal team alerted Apple CEO Tim Cook about various concerns regarding its supply chain and also reached out to Apple subsidiaries in France, requesting responses within three weeks. The law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP has been examining allegations that minerals extracted in Congo by certain companies and armed groups are being illicitly smuggled out through Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
Though Apple did not publicly respond at the time, it previously informed the US Securities and Exchange Commission that none of the smelters or refiners in its 3TG supply chain utilize conflict minerals.
Criminal Complaints Now Filed
Reuters reports that the DRC has officially filed criminal complaints in both France and Belgium.
International legal representatives for Congo contend that Apple utilizes minerals illicitly extracted from Congo and laundered through global supply chains, asserting that this involvement renders the company complicit in crimes occurring in the region.
In concurrent complaints filed with the Paris prosecutor’s office and a Belgian investigative judge’s office on Monday, Congo accuses local subsidiaries, including Apple France, Apple Retail France, and Apple Retail Belgium, of various offenses.
These include concealing war crimes, laundering contaminated minerals, handling stolen property, and engaging in misleading commercial practices to assure consumers of clean supply chains.
The courts in both countries will now evaluate the evidence to determine whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Stock image of mining vehicle by Arno van Rensburg on Unsplash
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