The modern world is running on rare minerals. Companies like Apple need a lot of unique materials to make the devices that make the modern world possible. The Democratic Republic of Congo, long a site where people have fought over these minerals, has filed criminal charges against Apple in France and Belgium. The DRC has accused Apple of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The minerals in question are tin, tantalum, and tungsten, a group known as the 3T. The DRC is famous for its 3T deposits and world powers have long gone there to mine and extract resources. According to the DRC and its lawyers, those minerals were taken by armed groups and then washed into the global supply chain where Apple bought them.

"Color Apple red, not green. This is a trillion dollar company that needs to think about the consequences of its actions. Enough with the denials of accountability and hiding behind lies account of supply chain defenses!” Robert Amsterdam, a DRC lawyer said in a statement.

The criminal complaint is building for a long time. This group of lawyers has been working with the DRC for years and trying to get answers from Apple about where, exactly, all the 3T got. According to the lawyers, Apple has not yet arrived.

Last year, in a report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple said it is tracking its 3T supply chain. "Based on our due diligence, including analysis of information provided by third-party audit programs, upstream traceability programs, and our suppliers, we found no reasonable basis to conclude that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG is determined to be in our supply. chain since December 31, 2023 directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or neighboring countries.

Eastern Congo is famous for its mineral deposits and humanitarian disasters. A complex web of armed militias, Russian mercenariesand Chinese business interests have created a land of refugees and businesses that are made at the end of a rifle. The conflict has displaced millions of people and killed many more. The situation is so dire that locals in some communities welcome re-branded Wagner mercenaries from Eastern Europe and Russia with open arms. Despite all the violence, the minerals continue to flow. The mines are open, extracting value from the land.

Authorities in Belgium and France will review the DRC's criminal complaint and decide how to proceed. History is not on their side. In March, a US appeals court a similar criminal complaint was dismissed from the DRC accusing Apple, Google, Dell, and Tesla of benefiting from child labor in the country.
In his statement, Amsterdam called this new criminal complaint a "first salvo of judicial actions."