KINSHASA (Democratic Republic of Congo): Apple “could not have been unaware” that its supply chain was contaminated with “blood minerals,” a lawyer representing the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday.
The trial in the capital Kinshasa marks the first in a series of legal actions against major corporations. Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam & Partners said Apple was chosen as a target due to its immense economic influence and its public messaging on environmental commitments, particularly claims of contributing to the preservation of the planet.
“Apple is one of the most symbolic targets because of its ubiquitous messaging about ‘doing good for the planet’,” Anadolu Agency (AA) quoted him as saying.
The minerals in question – tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold – are critical components in manufacturing electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
These resources are primarily extracted from the Kivu region in eastern Congo, where armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed M23, control mining operations.
According to UN expert reports, M23 generates approximately US$300,000 in monthly revenue through illegal taxes imposed on local mining activities.
The case raises serious questions about the reliability of mineral traceability systems, such as the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative programme.
Apple, responding to the allegations, acknowledged that, like other technology firms, it indirectly sources minerals from Congo and neighbouring Rwanda through a complex network of intermediaries, including trading posts, refineries, and smelters.
These intermediaries are expected to adhere to traceability standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Congolese authorities have filed lawsuits against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the company of complicity in war crimes, money laundering, and consumer deception.
The legal action highlights efforts to expose the role of multinational corporations in exploiting minerals from conflict zones. – BERNAMA-AA
