Overview

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium, accusing Apple subsidiaries of using 'blood minerals' sourced from conflict zones in its supply chain.
• The allegations include laundering minerals, covering up war crimes, handling stolen goods, and misleading consumers about the origins of materials used in Apple products.
• The DRC claims that minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten, extracted from mines controlled by armed groups, are smuggled through neighboring Rwanda and integrated into global supply chains.
• Apple denies the accusations, citing its audits and due diligence measures, and claims it directed suppliers to cease sourcing minerals from the DRC and Rwanda earlier this year due to regional instability.
• The legal action is described as a 'first salvo' by the DRC's lawyers, who seek accountability for alleged systemic wrongdoing in global supply chains tied to violence, forced labor, and environmental harm.