• A U.S. NGO filed a lawsuit in Washington accusing Apple of using minerals linked to armed groups and human rights abuses in the DRC and Rwanda.

• The DRC has launched parallel legal actions in Europe—including France and Belgium—regarding Apple’s mineral supply chain.

• Apple denies all allegations, asserting that it halted sourcing from the DRC and Rwanda in 2024 and that 76% of its cobalt now comes from recycling.

A U.S. group has filed a new lawsuit against Apple over the alleged use of minerals from conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), adding pressure to the company as Kinshasa pursues similar actions in Europe.

International Rights Advocates filed the complaint in Washington. The organization accuses Apple of incorporating cobalt, tin, tantalum and tungsten into its products despite alleged links to human rights abuses and armed groups active in the DRC and Rwanda.

The lawsuit cites Chinese smelters Ningxia Orient, JiuJiang JinXin and Jiujiang Tanbre, which allegedly processed coltan originating from DRC mines controlled by armed groups. The complaint states that minerals were smuggled through Rwanda, a route previously documented by UN and Global Witness investigations.

The complaint also references a 2025 University of Nottingham study reporting forced labor and child labor in mining sites connected to Apple’s supply chain.

The plaintiffs request a judicial finding of consumer-law violations and deceptive practices, but do not seek damages.

The case advances as the DRC pursues its own initiatives in Europe. In April 2024, Kinshasa issued a formal notice to Apple demanding clarification on the origin of the so-called “3T” minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten).

Subsequently, criminal complaints were filed in France and Belgium for alleged handling of conflict minerals, money laundering and deceptive commercial practices.
 France closed its case in December due to insufficient evidence, while Belgian authorities continue to review the complaint.

Congolese officials maintain that illegally mined minerals from North Kivu are laundered through international supply chains after transiting via Rwanda.

Apple denies all accusations, insisting that no evidence links its suppliers to the financing of armed groups. The company says it ordered all smelters and refiners in 2024 to cease sourcing from the DRC and Rwanda, and reports that recycled cobalt accounted for 76% of the cobalt used in its devices in 2024.

Legal actions in both the U.S. and Belgium could clarify due-diligence and traceability obligations for multinationals. They may also increase pressure for stricter independent audits to verify compliance in global mineral supply chains.

This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum