Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Information Minister in Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Five civilians killed and at least 29 others injured in shelling across the border with India
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: So he [Trump] decided to cut off contact. That might still change, but that’s the situation right now
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: Trump’s circle told him [Dermer] that Netanyahu was manipulating him, and there’s nothing Trump hates more than being portrayed as someone being played
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Meetings between the Israelis, Egyptians, and Qataris are all centered around the Israeli proposal, which does not guarantee an end to the war [on Gaza]
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is threatening to expand the ground offensive if Hamas rejects the proposal
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Hamas rejects the Israeli proposal, viewing it as failing to guarantee an end to the war
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is sticking to its proposal, and insists there is no alternative offer on the table for negotiation
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: The meetings between the Israelis and the Egyptians and Qataris all revolve around the Israeli proposal
The administration was clearly looking for an off-ramp for this campaign against Ansar Allah, NBC News reports, citing US official
Trump's operation against Ansar Allah cost more than $1 billion, NBC News reports, citing US official

DR Congo slaps Apple with lawsuit over 'blood minerals' scandal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 19 Dec 2024 13:36
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The DRC says Apple has used minerals illicitly obtained from areas in eastern Congo, some allegedly purchased from neighboring Rwanda, which both Apple and the Rwandan government deny.

Listen
  • x
  • A congolese miner sifts through ground tocks to separate the cassiterite  in eastern Congo, August 16,2012. (AP)
    A Congolese miner sifts through ground tocks to separate the cassiterite in eastern Congo, August 16, 2012. (AP)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has filed lawsuits in Paris and Brussels against Apple’s European subsidiaries, accusing the company of sourcing "blood minerals" illegally mined in its conflict-ridden regions.

The DRC accused Apple of using minerals illicitly obtained from areas in eastern Congo, some allegedly purchased from neighboring Rwanda, which both Apple and the Rwandan government deny.

The DRC, one of Africa's most resource-rich yet conflict-plagued nations, is a key source of minerals and metals essential for high-tech products. Violence has gripped the country's eastern regions since the 1990s, with tensions escalating in recent years due to renewed offensives by the Rwandan-backed M23 insurgent group in North Kivu province. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of using M23 as a proxy to gain control of mineral-rich territories, a charge Rwanda strongly denies.

Apple, in response, claimed there is “no reasonable basis for concluding” that its products include minerals illegally exported from conflict zones. The company alleges to rigorously verify the origin of all its materials.

Related News

At least 143 dead in DR Congo boat fire on Congo River

M23 fighters remain in Walikale despite pledge to withdraw

Dive deeper

However, lawyers representing the DRC argue that Apple’s French and Belgian subsidiaries engaged in "deceptive commercial practices" to mislead consumers about the ethical sourcing of their materials.

William Bourdon, a Paris-based lawyer, described the lawsuits as "a first step towards making one of the biggest players in tech accountable for its policy of endless enrichment at the cost of the most serious of crimes staining African supply chains."

Brussels lawyer Christophe Marchand highlighted the significance of the cases, saying, “These complaints filed against Apple are a matter of great public interest at a time when European countries, consumers, and non-governmental organizations are increasing their scrutiny of international supply chains.”

Robert Amsterdam, the DRC’s Washington-based lawyer, called the lawsuits a “first salvo” in a broader legal campaign. He said as quoted by AFP, “Colour Apple red, and not green. It is a trillion-dollar company that must be assumed to know the consequences of its actions. Enough with denials of accountability.”

The legal team further stressed that the illegal procurement of minerals from eastern Congo has caused "unfathomable harm and suffering" to civilians. They accused Apple of indirectly fueling the conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups, thereby exacerbating violence, forced child labor, and environmental destruction. These reports are supported by investigations from the United Nations, the US State Department, and international NGOs.

  • DR Congo
  • Apple
  • Rwanda
  • 'blood minerals'

Most Read

Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US House to vote on bill criminalizing boycott of 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 3 May 2025
Throughout Operation Prosperity Guardian, current and former US military and intelligence officials expressed disquiet at the enormous “cost offset” involved in battling Ansar Allah. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Ansar Allah triumphant: US facing Red Sea defeat again

  • Opinion
  • 3 May 2025
Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • Today
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
UN experts warn: Stop the genocide or witness Gaza's end
Politics

Stop the genocide or witness end of life in Gaza: UN experts warn

Israeli police attack mourners as they carry the casket of killed Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in occupied al-Quds, Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP)
Politics

Israeli sniper who killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh identified

The Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

Pentagon’s unused properties drain billions in taxpayer funds

Haaretz
Palestine

Israeli military avoids calling up unwilling reservists: Haaretz

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS