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DRC Lawyers urge Apple to answer questions about its supply chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
DRC Lawyers urge Apple to answer questions about its supply chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo gathered new evidence from whistleblowers indicating that Apple is sourcing minerals from conflict areas in the east of the country.
In a statement, the DRC lawyers questioned Apple’s supply chain in the country and said they were evaluating legal options. Congo’s lawyers notified Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22 of a series of concerns about its supply chain, and also wrote to Apple subsidiaries in France, demanding answers within three weeks.
Lawyers Amsterdam & Partners LLP said in their statement on Wednesday(22nd May) that, four weeks later, the tech giant has remained silent and neither answered nor even acknowledged receipt of the questions.
Another lawyer from Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Peter Sahlas, stated that people who worked on Apple’s supply chain verification in Congo had come forward to say that their contracts were terminated after they flagged concerns that “blood minerals” were in Apple’s supply chain.”We are engaging with these individuals and evaluating their evidence and will have more to say once we have completed robust verifications,” Sahlas said, without giving further details.
Since the letter issued by Congo lawyers in April, clashes have intensified in eastern Congo where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized control of Rubaya, a key mining town for coltan used in smartphones and other appliances.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/lawyers-question-apples-supply-chain-alleging-blood-minerals/
https://trendsnafrica.com/rebel-group-captures-mining-town-in-eastern-drc/
Apple stated that it never used to directly buy, procure or source primary minerals, and it had been auditing its suppliers for several years and publishing its findings. In a report last year, it said that 100% of identified smelters and refiners in the supply chain for all applicable Apple products manufactured in 2023 had participated in an independent third-party conflict minerals audit for tin, tantalum, and tungsten, known as 3T minerals, and gold (3TG).
