"The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Apple of using minerals from its war-torn eastern region in phone manufacturing, threatening legal action. The DRC claims Apple obtains minerals from the region, laundered in Rwanda, and integrated into global supply chains. Apple denied allegations, citing due diligence. The DRC's lawyers allege grave human rights violations, including sexual violence and armed attacks, at mineral sites. Apple products are said to be "tainted by the blood of the Congolese people." Clashes persist between rebels, backed by Rwanda, and government forces in the region."

This was seen in a formal desist notice filed by the DRC’s lawyers addressed to Apple which was seen by AFP, threatening legal action if Apple continues the alleged practice after the warning.


The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused world-leading phone manufacturing company, Apple of using “illegally exploited” minerals extracted from the country’s war-torn eastern region to manufacture its products.

This was seen in a formal desist notice filed by the DRC’s lawyers addressed to Apple which was seen by AFP, threatening legal action if Apple continues the alleged practice after the warning.

The DRC's Paris-based lawyers accused Apple of acquiring minerals transported from the DRC into neighbouring Rwanda, where they are laundered and "integrated into the global supply chain".

The DRC, the UN and Western countries have accused Rwanda of supporting rebel groups, including March 23 Movement (M23), in a bid to control the region’s vast mineral resources, an allegation Kigali denies.

“Apple has sold technology made with minerals sourced from a region whose population is being devastated by grave human rights violations,” the DRC’s lawyers wrote.

Sexual violence, armed attacks and widespread corruption at sites providing minerals to Apple are just some of the claims levelled in the letter.

Macs, iPhones, and other Apple products are “tainted by the blood of the Congolese people”, the DRC’s lawyers said.

When contacted by AFP, Apple alluded to statements in its 2023 annual business report on the alleged usage of so-called conflict minerals, which are critical for a wide range of high-tech products.

“Based on our due diligence efforts… we found no reasonable basis for concluding that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) determined to be in our supply chain as of Dec 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country,” it said.

SaharaReporters had reported how a bomb struck the airport in the restive eastern DR Congo city of Goma in February as fighting flared between rebels and government forces.

Clashes have intensified lately around the strategic town of Sake, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Goma, between the M23 rebel group – which Kinshasa says is backed by neighbouring Rwanda – and Congolese government forces.

Silly, corrupt and directionless set up of people! Congo should have been one of the wealthiest countries on earth considering its huge deposits of natural resources but like a typical black African country, its resources have become a curse to it because it lacks the will and expertise to maximize all its resources for the benefits of its citizens. Aren’t the Chinese, the French, Belgian also mining for minerals in Congo? Why aren’t they being called out as well? Black Africans love to blame everyone else but themselves for their failures. Nigeria has crude oil in abundance but lacks the capacity to refine its own crude; but rather chooses to refine its crude abroad! Who does that? Only a pathetic bunch of animals would do such a thing. Singapore, a small island nation with no visible natural resources is one of the wealthiest countries in the world with world-class refineries and shipping ports. It is one of the world’s leading refining centers and has the world’s fifteenth largest refining capacity, as of 2021. It has the capacity to process 1.46 million barrels per day of crude oil, making it a major hub for the refining of oil. Congo, like Nigeria, should focus on using its natural resources to better the lives of its citizens rather than blaming others for its failures.

Xiaohei:
Silly, corrupt and directionless set up of people! Congo should have been one of the wealthiest countries on earth considering its huge deposits of natural resources but like a typical black African country, its resources have become a curse to it because it lacks the will and expertise to maximize all its resources for the benefits of its citizens. Aren’t the Chinese, the French, Belgian also mining for minerals in Congo? Why aren’t they being called out as well? Black Africans love to blame everyone else but themselves for their failures. Nigeria has crude oil in abundance but lacks the capacity to refine its own crude; but rather chooses to refine its crude abroad! Who does that? Only a pathetic bunch of animals would do such a thing. Singapore, a small island nation with no visible natural resources is one of the wealthiest countries in the world with world-class refineries and shipping ports. It is one of the world’s leading refining centers and has the world’s fifteenth largest refining capacity, as of 2021. It has the capacity to process 1.46 million barrels per day of crude oil, making it a major hub for the refining of oil. Congo, like Nigeria, should focus on using its natural resources to better the lives of its citizens rather than blaming others for its failures.

This Hutu and Tutsi war would never end. The Congolese people are divided and that's why the country is not stable. If not, Rwandan president, Paul kagame cannot use any rebel to fight the Hutus in congo. The corruption within congo is too much even within the Army. They are working with the M23 rebels. A similar thing is happening in northern Nigeria especially Jos. Those people attacking communities are miners. They disguise as herdsmen to commit genocide. Then they take over the area and start illegal mining.