DR Congo accuses Apple Inc. using "blood minerals"
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has threatened to take legal action against Apple Inc. for collaborating with mineral smugglers from DR Congo.
Congolese government lawyers accuse the giant technology company Apple Inc. that it buys stolen minerals from mines in eastern Congo where rebels violate human rights and then transfers the minerals to the neighboring country of Rwanda.
The lawyers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have sent the large American technology company an official notice asking it to stop buying minerals smuggled from the Congo and warning that they may take legal action if it ignores the warning.
The Congolese lawyers based in Paris, France have accused the Apple Company of being involved in the smuggling of minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and importing them into the neighboring country of Rwanda where they will be purified and then introduced into the international market chain.
These minerals include tin, tantalum and cobalt, which are important in the production of various high-tech products mined by armed groups in areas affected by the unrest in eastern Congo.
The eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are rich in minerals, have suffered from chaos and lack of peace as the M23 rebels vie to control those areas.
The government of Kinshasa and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels to control those areas rich in minerals; allegations that have been denied by the Kigali government.
