A U.S.-based human rights organization has filed a lawsuit against Apple in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, accusing the company of using conflict minerals tied to armed groups and forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The nonprofit group, International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates), alleges Apple’s supply chain includes cobalt, tin, tantalum and tungsten mined under exploitative conditions.
The complaint, filed Tuesday, seeks a court determination that Apple violated consumer protection laws, an injunction to stop allegedly deceptive marketing practices, and reimbursement of legal fees. It does not request monetary damages or class-action status.
IRAdvocates says three Chinese smelters—Ningxia Orient, JiuJiang JinXin, and Jiujiang Tanbre—processed minerals allegedly smuggled through Rwanda from areas in the eastern DRC controlled by armed groups. The lawsuit cites investigations by the United Nations and Global Witness, linking these materials to Apple’s manufacturing network.
The group also referenced a 2025 study by the University of Nottingham which found evidence of child and forced labor at mine sites tied to Apple’s suppliers. Neither the smelters, the government of the DRC, nor Rwanda immediately responded to requests for comment, according to Al Jazeera.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing. In previous cases, it stated that its supplier code of conduct and auditing protocols ensure that materials are responsibly sourced. In December 2024, Apple said there was “no reasonable basis” to conclude that smelters or refiners in its supply chain were financing armed groups in the region. It also said 76 percent of the cobalt used in its products that year was recycled, though the lawsuit claims this calculation allows blending with conflict-sourced ore.
This lawsuit follows earlier legal actions by IRAdvocates, including a similar case against Tesla and other tech companies, which was dismissed by U.S. courts in 2024. French prosecutors also dropped a separate case on conflict minerals filed by the DRC against Apple subsidiaries, citing lack of evidence. A related criminal complaint in Belgium remains under investigation.
The DRC is a major global supplier of critical minerals used in smartphones, electric batteries, and computers. Congolese authorities have said that profits from these resources help fund ongoing conflict in the eastern region, where violence has killed thousands and displaced many more.
Source: Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/11/26/us-group-sues-apple-over-dr-congo-conflict-minerals
