government of congo Tech is questioning Apple about information the company had about “blood minerals” from the African country’s conflict zone that could be smuggled into its supply chains and is demanding answers within three weeks.
A group of international lawyers representing Congo said on Thursday they had sent letters Apple CEO Tim Cook And its French subsidiary this week raised concerns about human rights violations involving minerals extracted from mines in the country’s restive east that could eventually be used in the company’s products.
At least 250,000 people displaced as conflict escalates in Congo
They included a list of questions challenging Apple to show how it monitors its supply chains in a region where more than 100 armed rebel groups operate, some of which have carried out mass killings of civilians. Has been accused of giving.
A Congolese miner sifts ground rocks to separate cassiterite, the main ore that is processed into tin, in the town of Nyabibwe in eastern Congo on August 16, 2012. The Congolese government is questioning Apple about the tech company’s knowledge of “blood”. Minerals” from the African country’s conflict zone that could be smuggled into supply chains. A group of international lawyers representing Congo said Thursday, April 25, 2024 it has filed a lawsuit this week against Apple CEO Tim Cook and its French subsidiary A letter has been sent to the company expressing concern about human rights violations related to minerals extracted from mines in the war-torn east of the country. (AP Photo/Mark Hoffer)
Writing to Cook, the lawyers said, “It has become clear to us that year after year, Apple has sold technology made from minerals obtained from a region whose population is being devastated by serious human rights violations.”
“The iPhones, Mac computers and accessories that Apple sells to its customers around the world depend on supply chains that are deeply opaque and that are tainted with the blood of the Congolese people,” the lawyers said.
eastern congo It is one of the most mineral-rich regions in the world, but it is also the site of a major humanitarian disaster, where armed groups have been fighting for years for control of the mines and the valuable minerals they contain, and millions of people displaced and affected. Has happened. The violence is getting worse. The situation has become very bad in the last few months.
Apple, which has a market value of about $2.6 trillion, has refused to mine and use minerals from areas where human rights are violated, saying it does business ethically and in Congo and neighboring countries. Minerals are “responsibly” sourced.
It says the minerals it buys do not finance wars or armed groups. Congolese government lawyers said, “Those claims do not appear to be based on solid, verifiable evidence.”
The Congolese government said it suspects that some of the tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold – known as 3TG critical minerals – that Apple receives from suppliers is smuggled from Congo to neighboring Rwanda and then sent to global markets. The supply chain is infiltrated. 3TG minerals are key components in electronics.
In response to a request for comment, Apple pointed to a section of the company’s filing on conflict minerals.
“Based on our due diligence efforts, including analyzing third-party audit programs, upstream traceability programs, and information provided by our suppliers, we found no reasonable basis to conclude that any of 3TG’s smelters or refiners are subject to our “The supply is scheduled to include funds that directly or indirectly funded or benefited armed groups in the DRC or the surrounding country,” the report said, using the acronym Democratic Republic of the Congo. Having said.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said, “People have been dying for 30 years as a result of illegal mining in Congo.” “We want clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies, especially Apple, to verify whether they are acquiring minerals produced under completely illegal conditions.”
He said Rwanda has been “presented” as a supplier for many minerals even though it has few reserves of its own.
Congo has accused Rwanda of funding and directing the notorious armed rebel group M23 to help illegally extract minerals in eastern Congo. The UN also says that M23 is supported by Rwanda.
Rwanda denies this but tensions are rising between the countries, while M23 and other groups are accused of regularly carrying out attacks that include killing and rape of civilians, according to Human Rights Watch.
Congolese government lawyers cited a 2022 report by nonprofit group Global Witness that claimed Apple had previously implemented “few meaningful mitigation measures” to avoid the use of smuggled minerals.
The lawyers said the Congolese government is now seeking “effective redress” against “end users of blood minerals” around the world.
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He asked Apple to answer questions over its supply chain controls within three weeks and said he had prepared a report on the “laundering” of Congolese minerals by Rwandan and private entities that would be made public this month.
The letter said they will also seek instructions from the Congolese government on what legal measures it is considering against Apple.
