DR Congo accuses tech giant Apple of using unethically sourced minerals: summary

What we know

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken aim at Apple, demanding answers from CEO Tim Cook regarding the sourcing of minerals used in the manufacturing of the company's products.
• Expressing concerns that Apple's supply chain may be tainted by "blood minerals" obtained through unethical mining practices in the DRC, lawyers representing the country have issued a stern request for clarification.
• Led by Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam & Partners LLP in Washington DC, and William Bourdon of Bourdon & Associés in Paris, the legal team representing the DRC has penned letters to both Tim Cook and Apple subsidiaries in France, seeking a comprehensive response within a strict three-week timeframe.
• Amsterdam & Partners LLP was appointed by President Felix Tshisekedi to represent the DRC in litigation concerning individuals and companies involved in the extraction, supply, and commercialization of natural resources and minerals pillaged from the country. In a statement, the law firm reiterated concerns over the potential inclusion of "blood minerals" from the DRC in Apple's supply chain, citing ethical and humanitarian implications.
• Coinciding with the legal action against Apple, Amsterdam & Partners LLP released a new report on Thursday, reiterating accusations that the DRC's neighbour Rwanda is allegedly supporting the militant group M23 in eastern Congo to gain control over lucrative mineral trade routes. These allegations have been consistently denied by the Rwandan government.

What they said

Amsterdam & Partners LLP  noted in the statement that, "The iPhones, Mac computers and accessories that Apple sells to its customers around the world rely on supply chains that are too opaque and that are tainted by the blood of the Congolese people…Although Apple has affirmed that it verifies the origins of minerals it uses to manufacture its products, those claims do not appear to be based on concrete, verifiable evidence…The world's eyes are wide shut: Rwanda's production of key 3T minerals is near zero, and yet big tech companies say their minerals are sourced in Rwanda." Congo government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has said that "in Congo, people have been dying for 30 years as a result of illegal mining. We want clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies, in particular Apple, to verify whether they are acquiring minerals produced in completely illegal conditions.” However, Apple’s report states that "We found no reasonable basis for concluding that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG determined to be in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country."