International Lawyers Welcome Apple’s Mineral Sourcing Decision

By Sonia Rolley

PARIS (Reuters) – International lawyers representing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) expressed approval of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s recent decision to cease sourcing minerals from the region due to escalating conflict. They intend to continue pursuing legal actions against the company in Europe.

Criminal complaints were filed against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium this week, alleging that the tech giant is utilizing conflict minerals within its supply chain.

Congo is a significant supplier of tin, tantalum, and tungsten—also known as 3T minerals—used in products like computers and mobile phones. However, reports from U.N. experts and rights organizations indicate that many artisanal mines in the region are controlled by armed groups implicated in severe human rights abuses, including massacres and rapes.

Apple contested these claims, asserting in a statement that it has instructed its suppliers to refrain from acquiring minerals sourced from Congo or Rwanda.

The lawyers acting on behalf of Congo expressed both satisfaction and caution regarding Apple's announcement. They emphasized the importance of verifying the company's supply chain changes with concrete data and evidence.

They noted, “Apple’s statements do not change the past and the crimes that are alleged to have been committed,” and underscored the need for the judicial authorities in France and Belgium to adjudicate the matter.

Despite Apple’s insistence that it does not directly source primary minerals and conducts supplier audits, the lawyers argued that Apple is complicit in the exploitation and laundering of minerals connected to armed conflicts in Congo.

In its statement, Apple acknowledged it notified suppliers to halt sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and Rwanda as conflict escalated, expressing concerns about the reliability of independent audits and industry certifications.

The majority of minerals in Apple’s devices are reportedly recycled.

Since the 1990s, eastern Congo has witnessed devastating conflicts tied to mineral competition, leading to millions of civilian deaths and displacements, with armed groups profiting from mineral exports, often smuggled through Rwanda. The Rwandan government has denied any involvement in these illicit trades.