April 26, 2024 – An international team of lawyers representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22nd, accusing the tech giant of illegally sourcing minerals from the country’s eastern region, an area notorious for violence, child labor, and other human rights abuses.
The lawyers contend that Apple’s flagship products, such as the iPhone and Mac, utilize what they term “blood minerals” in their African supply chain. They have demanded that Apple respond to these allegations within three weeks.
Facing these accusations, Apple has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating that as of December 31st, 2023, their investigations have found no direct links between their suppliers and armed groups in the DRC. The company emphasized that they conduct continuous audits and have already removed 14 non-compliant products from their lineup.
The minerals involved are known as 3T or 3TG minerals, which include tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. These minerals are often labeled as “conflict minerals” due to their association with mining activities in areas of armed conflict and human rights abuses.
For more information, readers can refer to the provided links for further details on the lawyers’ letter and the accusations leveled against Apple.
