KINSHASA (Reuters) – The Democratic Republic of Congo is pressing Apple Inc for more information about its supply chain over concerns the company may be contaminated with conflict minerals from the country, international lawyers hired by Congo said on Thursday.
Congo, particularly its eastern region, has been plagued by violence since the 1990s that has killed millions of people as struggles over national identity, ethnicity and resources led to invasions of neighboring countries and the emergence of a variety of armed groups.
Conflicts have erupted over control of the illegal trade in tin and gold, as well as coltan and tantalum, commonly used in cell phones and computers, all mined in Congo and then smuggled through neighboring Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
In September 2023, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi met with international law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP to investigate the supply chain of tin, tungsten and tantalum – known as 3T minerals – amid concerns about illegal exports, the law firm said.
The company said it briefed Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday about a series of questions based on fears about its supply chain, and also wrote to Apple subsidiaries in France asking for answers within three weeks.
“Although Apple has confirmed that it verifies the origin of the minerals it uses to make its products, these claims do not appear to be based on concrete, verifiable evidence,” Amsterdam said in a statement on Thursday.
“The world’s eyes are wide closed: Rwanda’s production of key 3T minerals is close to zero, and yet major tech companies say their minerals are sourced in Rwanda,” it said.
Apple referred Reuters to its latest report on conflict minerals.
It said that 100% of identified smelters and refineries in the supply chain for all relevant Apple products manufactured in 2023 had participated in an independent third-party conflict minerals audit for 3T minerals and gold (3TG).
“We have found no reasonable basis to conclude that any of 3TG’s smelters or refineries in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or facilitated armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or any adjacent country “The Apple report said.
The Amsterdam statement coincided with the release of a law firm report accusing Rwanda and private companies of laundering 3T and other conflict minerals from Congo.
The governments of Rwanda and Congo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Congo is the world’s leading producer of tantalum, followed by Rwanda. It is also the leading producer of copper and cobalt, a key ingredient in electric batteries.
Most of Congo’s mineral resources are concentrated in the east, where insecurity has worsened since the major comeback of a rebel group called the M23 in March 2022.
(Reporting by Sonia Rolley and Ange KasongoAdditional reporting by Philbert Girinema and Sofia ChristensenWriting by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)