While DRC lawyers have welcomed Apple's decision to halt sourcing from the region, they intend to continue legal action in Europe and seek verification of Apple's claims regarding its supply chain changes.

The allegations against Apple include serious charges such as war crimes, laundering, forgery, and deception.

These allegations were highlighted in a criminal complaint filed against Apple in France and Belgium on the same day as the company's denial.

Reports from United Nations experts and human rights organizations indicate that some artisanal mines in the DRC are controlled by militants responsible for severe human rights abuses, including massacres and sexual violence.

Apple has firmly denied allegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding its involvement with conflict minerals in its products.

The DRC government claims that Apple's sourcing practices make the company complicit in the use of conflict minerals, which are often laundered through international supply chains.

The eastern DRC has been a hotspot of violence involving rebel groups, some of which are allegedly supported by Rwanda, alongside the Congolese army since the 1990s.

The minerals in question, including tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold, are frequently linked to human rights violations in conflict zones.

In response to the escalating conflict in the region, Apple instructed its suppliers earlier in 2024 to stop purchasing these minerals from the DRC and Rwanda.