The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched criminal complaints against tech giant Apple, alleging the company benefits from minerals extracted under violent conditions in the country’s war-torn regions. The filings were made on Monday in France and Belgium, targeting Apple and its local subsidiaries, according to lawyers representing the Congolese government.
Congo, a leading global supplier of tin, tantalum, and tungsten—essential minerals for electronics—has long struggled with armed groups controlling artisanal mines. These groups are accused of carrying out atrocities, including massacres, sexual violence, and looting, as highlighted by U.N. reports and human rights organizations.
Apple has denied direct involvement in sourcing raw materials from such regions, stating that its supply chain undergoes rigorous audits to ensure compliance with ethical standards. In a 2023 report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company affirmed that none of the smelters or refiners it works with were found to have financed armed groups in Congo or neighboring countries. Apple also highlighted its investment in initiatives to improve mineral traceability and its commitment to transparency through published findings.
However, Congo’s lawyers argue that Apple benefits indirectly from illegally extracted minerals, which they claim are “laundered” through global supply chains. By profiting from these materials, the legal team alleges, Apple is complicit in the violence and exploitation occurring in eastern Congo.
The complaints accuse Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium—Apple France, Apple Retail France, and Apple Retail Belgium—of serious offenses, including concealing war crimes, laundering illicitly mined minerals, handling stolen goods, and misleading consumers about the ethical integrity of their products. The French complaint specifically accuses Apple of knowingly relying on a supply chain tied to systemic wrongdoing, citing findings from U.N. and human rights reports.
Christophe Marchand, a Belgian lawyer representing Congo, highlighted Belgium’s historical responsibility, referencing the exploitation of Congo’s resources during King Leopold II’s colonial rule. “Belgium has a moral obligation to help Congo in its efforts to end the pillaging of its resources,” Marchand said.
Filed on behalf of Congo’s justice minister, the complaints aim to hold Apple accountable for its global operations. France and Belgium were chosen as venues for the legal action due to their strong emphasis on corporate accountability. Judicial authorities in both countries will now decide whether to open formal investigations and pursue criminal charges.
If these cases proceed, they could set a precedent for addressing corporate complicity in human rights violations linked to supply chains—a growing area of concern for multinational corporations worldwide.