French Prosecutors Dismiss DRC’s Conflict Minerals Case Against Apple
French prosecutors have closed a case filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Apple subsidiaries, which accused the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain, according to a document seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The DRC filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium in December, alleging that the company sourced tin, tantalum, and tungsten (3T minerals) from conflict zones in Congo and Rwanda.
At the time, Apple strongly denied the accusations, stating that its suppliers were explicitly prohibited from using minerals sourced from these regions.
A document dated February 18 from the Paris prosecutor’s office stated that allegations of money laundering and deceptive business practices were “not sufficiently well-founded”, leading to the case being closed.
While dismissing the complaint, the office suggested that the DRC contact a jurisdiction specializing in war crimes for further legal action.
Lawyers representing the DRC in France, William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, criticized the decision as a “very partial dismissal.” They vowed to challenge it, emphasizing the severity of the accusations and the need to hold responsible parties accountable.
“The facts denounced are extremely serious, and those responsible must be identified and prosecuted,” they stated.
The DRC is a major producer of 3T minerals, which are essential for manufacturing computers and mobile phones. However, some artisanal mines in the region are controlled by armed groups, which, according to UN experts and human rights organizations, have been responsible for massacres, mass rapes, looting, and other crimes.
Since the 1990s, eastern Congo’s mining sector has been ravaged by conflict, with armed groups—including some backed by neighboring Rwanda—clashing with Congolese military forces over control of lucrative resources.
Unlike France, Belgium has taken a different approach. A lawyer for the DRC confirmed in January that Belgian authorities had appointed an investigating magistrate to review the case, signaling that legal proceedings in Europe are far from over.
