Whistleblowers reveal new evidence linking Apple to conflict minerals in Congo: summary
What we know
- International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have unveiled fresh evidence, obtained from whistleblowers, increasing allegations that tech giant Apple Inc. might be procuring minerals from conflict-ridden areas in eastern Congo.
- In a statement issued on May 23, the legal representatives urged Apple to address inquiries regarding its supply chain in the country, emphasising that they were exploring legal avenues. Apple has yet to respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
- The lawyers representing Congo's government had previously alerted Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22 about a series of concerns regarding its supply chain. Additionally, they wrote to Apple subsidiaries in France, requesting responses within a three-week timeframe, Reuters reports.
- Amsterdam & Partners LLP, the law firm conducting the investigation, has been probing allegations that minerals mined in Congo by various companies and armed groups are being illicitly smuggled out through Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
- The DRC has been plagued by violence since the 1990s, particularly in its eastern region, where numerous armed groups, some with alleged support from neighbouring Rwanda, engage in conflict over issues of national identity, ethnicity, and resource control.
What they said
In their statement on May 22, the firm expressed disappointment over Apple's silence, stating, "It is more urgent than ever that Apple provide real answers to the very serious questions we have raised." Apple has maintained in the past that it does not directly procure primary minerals and has been conducting audits of its suppliers for several years, disclosing its findings publicly. "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," a statement from Apple's report noted.
