Congo Files Criminal Complaints Against Apple Subsidiaries Over Conflict Minerals in France and Belgium, M23 Generates $300,000 Monthly

Dec 17, 2024, 07:06 AM

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, alleging that the tech company has utilized conflict minerals in its supply chain. The complaints were confirmed by lawyers for the Congolese government, who indicated that this action is part of a broader strategy to address the issue of conflict minerals linked to the ongoing violence in the region. The legal representatives stated that Apple cannot ignore the contamination of its supply chain by so-called 'blood minerals' sourced from the Congo and Rwanda. This legal move comes as the M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, has been occupying the mining area of Rubaya since April, reportedly generating approximately $300,000 per month in taxes, according to United Nations estimates. The Congolese government has indicated that this is just the first wave of complaints, suggesting that more legal actions may follow.