DRC sues Apple over 'blood minerals' claim

The DRC has filed filed a criminal case against European subsidiaries of tech giant Apple, accusing them of illegally using ‘blood minerals’ in its supply chain.The DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country's conflict-racked east and Rwanda, zones in which the materials are alleged to be mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices. Apple's French and Belgian units also deployed deceptive commercial practices to persuade consumers that its supply chains were clean, according to a statement from lawyers representing the DRC. A Fin24 report notes complaints against Apple have been lodged in Paris and Brussels with the allegations encompassing war crimes, laundering, forgery and deception. The DRC's Washington-based lawyer Robert Amsterdam described the case as constituting a ‘first salvo’ of judicial actions. ‘Colour Apple red, and not green. It is a trillion-dollar company that must be assumed to know the consequences of its actions. Enough with denials of accountability and hiding behind the false narrative of supply chain defences!’ he said. Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon said the criminal complaints constitute ‘a first step towards making one of the biggest players in tech accountable for its policy of endless enrichment at the cost of the most serious of crimes staining African supply chains’.

The lawyers said that the scale and duration of the alleged activities have caused ‘unfathomable harm and suffering’ for civilians, fuelling violence and conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups and contributing to forced child labour and environmental devastation. Fin24 notes Apple last year said it had ‘no reasonable basis for concluding’ its products contain illegally exported minerals from conflict-hit zones. The tech giant has insisted it carefully verifies the origin of materials in its output. Rwanda has also dismissed the allegations as unfounded. ‘This is just the latest blow by the DRC Government, which is constantly seeking to divert attention to Rwanda with false accusations,’ Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said.

Full Fin24 report