Apple Faces New Lawsuit Alleging Use of Conflict Minerals Despite Denials
Apple Sued in Washington Over Alleged Congo Conflict Minerals in Supply Chain
A US-based advocacy group has filed a new lawsuit in Washington, D.C., accusing Apple of sourcing minerals tied to conflict and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda allegations the company strongly denies.
International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates), which previously sued Apple, Tesla and other tech firms over cobalt sourcing, brought the fresh complaint after its earlier case was dismissed by US courts last year.
French prosecutors also dropped Congo’s case against Apple subsidiaries in December due to a lack of evidence, although a related criminal inquiry in Belgium remains ongoing.
Apple has consistently rejected claims that it benefits from forced labour or unsafe mining practices in Africa. In response to the latest lawsuit, the company said on Wednesday it “strongly disputes” the accusations, calling them “baseless.” Apple maintains that it instructed suppliers to stop sourcing minerals from the DRC and Rwanda as conflict escalated in eastern Congo in 2024.
An Apple spokesperson said that 99% of the cobalt used in Apple-designed batteries now comes from recycled sources, underscoring the company’s strategy to reduce reliance on mined materials.
Apple also emphasized that its Supplier Code of Conduct enforces some of the strongest sourcing standards in the industry and that it remains committed to transparency in public reporting.
Claims Against Apple
In its complaint, IRAdvocates alleges that Apple’s supply chain continues to include cobalt, tin, tantalum and tungsten linked to child labour, forced labour and armed groups in the DRC and Rwanda.
The lawsuit—filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia—seeks a judicial determination that Apple violated consumer protection laws, an injunction against allegedly deceptive marketing, and reimbursement of legal costs. It does not seek monetary damages or class-action status.
The filing claims that three Chinese smelters—Ningxia Orient, JiuJiang JinXin and Jiujiang Tanbre processed coltan ore that UN investigators and Global Witness allege was smuggled through Rwanda after armed groups seized mines in eastern Congo, and that this material entered Apple’s supply chain.
It also cites a University of Nottingham study documenting forced and child labour at Congolese sites linked to Apple suppliers.
The smelters did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither the governments of Congo—responsible for about 70% of global cobalt supply—nor Rwanda provided comment.
Apple’s Position
Apple has repeatedly denied sourcing minerals from conflict zones or suppliers linked to forced labour, stating in December that there was “no reasonable basis” to conclude smelters or refiners in its supply chain financed armed groups in Congo or neighbouring states.
The company reported that 76% of the cobalt used in its devices in 2024 was recycled, although the lawsuit alleges that Apple’s accounting methods still allow mixing recycled material with ore sourced from conflict-affected regions.
Congo’s government says armed groups continue to use mineral revenues to fund violence that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Authorities have tightened mineral controls, further constraining global supply.
The lawsuit adds new pressure on Apple at a time when scrutiny of mineral supply chains—and their links to conflict and labour abuses is intensifying globally.
