iPhones 'tainted with blood'? Congo accuses Apple of using ‘illegally exploited' minerals from war zones

Apple CEO Tim Cook. Image Credit: AFP

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Apple of using minerals obtained through illegal means from the country’s embattled eastern region in its products. Lawyers representing the DRC have issued a formal cease and desist notice to Apple, warning the tech giant of potential legal action if the alleged practice continues.

In response, Apple has pointed to statements from its 2023 annual corporate report, where it states that its due diligence efforts have found no evidence that any smelters or refiners in its supply chain directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed rebel groups in the DRC or neighbouring countries.

What are ‘blood minerals’
Remember the film Blood Diamond, featuring Leonardo di Caprio? Well, imagine, that instead of selling diamonds, Leo’s character was dealing in rare earth minerals.

The term ‘blood minerals’ basically refers to minerals sourced from regions plagued by conflict, violence, and human rights abuses, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the case of the DRC, minerals like cobalt and copper, essential for clean energy technologies like rechargeable batteries, are often extracted under conditions involving forced evictions, sexual assault, arson, and violence.

Rebel groups like M23 control significant portions of the eastern DRC, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. The situation has led to mass displacement, with over a million people forced into temporary camps around the provincial capital of Goma. The UN has described the eastern DRC as one of the worst places in the world for children due to the unprecedented levels of violence.

Minerals extracted from the DRC are often transported to neighbouring countries like Rwanda, where they are laundered to evade oversight mechanisms meant to prevent the sale of conflict minerals. This process allows the minerals to enter the global supply chain, where they may end up in products manufactured by major tech companies like Apple.

Why is Congo accusing Apple of using blood minerals?
The accusations against Apple come amid ongoing violence and conflict in the DRC’s mineral-rich Great Lakes region, with accusations against Rwanda of supporting rebel groups to control the region’s resources.

The DRC’s lawyers argue that by using minerals from this region, Apple is effectively supporting a supply chain linked to grave human rights violations.

The dispute highlights the broader issue of ethical sourcing of minerals from conflict-affected regions, with concerns about human rights abuses, smuggling, and the exploitation of natural resources.

The accusations against Apple by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) extend to claims of sexual violence, armed attacks, and widespread corruption at mineral sites that provide materials for Apple products.

The DRC’s lawyers assert that products like Macs, iPhones, and other Apple devices are “tainted by the blood of the Congolese people” due to the alleged exploitation of minerals from the region.

French lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth have sent a formal notice to Apple’s subsidiaries in France and to the company’s US headquarters through lawyer Robert Amsterdam. They argue that Apple has consistently relied on suppliers that obtain minerals from Rwanda, a country accused of exploiting the DRC’s natural resources for nearly three decades.

Apple’s claims of ethical sourcing, and its challenges
While Apple has made efforts to ethically source minerals, the lawyers claim that these efforts are notoriously insufficient. They criticize Apple for relying mainly on the vigilance of its suppliers and external audits that may not adequately address the issues in the supply chain.

One of the main mechanisms meant to ensure the supply of conflict-free minerals in the DRC, the Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI), has been accused by Global Witness of contributing to the laundering of conflict minerals, child labour, trafficking, and smuggling in the DRC. Despite this, not only Apple but also companies like Tesla, Intel, and Samsung rely on this flawed system.

The DRC’s formal notice to Apple demands answers about the minerals used in Apple products within three weeks, with the threat of legal action if the company fails to respond. The lawyers affirm that all legal options are on the table in this matter.

The lawyers representing the DRC argue that major tech manufacturers, including Apple, bear responsibility for using minerals obtained from such conflict-ridden regions. They criticize the lack of transparency around the sourcing of these minerals, emphasizing the need for greater accountability in the supply chain to prevent the perpetuation of human rights abuses.