International attorneys representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo said they have new information from whistleblowers that Apple may acquire minerals from the war-torn eastern DRC.
In a statement, the attorneys challenged Apple to answer concerns regarding its national supply chain and said they were considering legal action. Apple did not immediately reply to Reuters' request for comment.
Congo has been plagued by violence throughout the 1990s, notably in the restive east, where several armed groups, some backed by neighboring Rwanda, battle for national identity, ethnicity, and resources.
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On April 22, Congo's attorneys informed Apple CEO Tim Cook of several concerns concerning the company's supply chain, and they also wrote to Apple companies in France, asking for responses within three weeks. The Amsterdam & Partners LLP legal company has been looking into reports that minerals extracted in Congo by various firms and armed organizations are being transported via Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
The business stated on Wednesday that four weeks later, "the tech giant has remained silent and neither answered nor even acknowledged receipt of the questions."
One of the lawyers, Robert Amsterdam, stated that the firm has recently received fresh evidence from whistleblowers.
Apple has previously said that it does not directly acquire, procure, or source primary materials and that it has audited its suppliers for several years and published the results.
According to a study released last year, 100% of the identified smelters and refiners in the supply chain for all eligible Apple goods made in 2023 engaged in an independent third-party conflict minerals audit for tin, tantalum, and tungsten (3T minerals), as well as gold (3TG).
Another lawyer from Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Peter Sahlas, told Reuters that workers who worked on Apple's supply chain verification in Congo reported that their contracts were terminated when they raised concerns about "blood minerals" in Apple's supply chain.
