The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed complaints against Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium against the tech giant for allegedly using conflict minerals in its supply chain.
According to a report by Reuters, the complaint alleges that Apple engaged in deceptive business practices in the refining of tainted minerals, handling stolen goods and ensuring that the supply chain to consumers was clean.
In Congo, a major source of the so-called 3T minerals used in computers and mobile phones, tin, tantalum and tungsten, Apple claims it uses minerals looted from Congo and washed through international supply chains.
Meanwhile, Apple has denied the allegations and said it does not directly source primary minerals and conducts regular audits. In a 2023 filing on conflict minerals, Apple said no 3T Minerals or gold smelters or refiners in its supply chain financed or benefited armed groups in Congo or neighboring countries.
Congo’s complaints center on ITSCI, a metals industry-funded monitoring and certification scheme designed to help companies perform due diligence on mineral suppliers. Congolese lawyers argue that Apple has used ITSCI as a fig leaf, of which the tech giant is a member, to cleanly present its supply chain despite being discredited by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).
Judicial authorities in both countries will decide whether to investigate the complaints further and whether to bring criminal charges, the report said.