French prosecutors have decided to close a case filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which accused Apple subsidiaries of using conflict minerals in their supply chain. This decision was confirmed in a document reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.
In December, Congo filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium. At that time, Apple firmly denied the allegations and stated that it had instructed its suppliers to avoid using minerals sourced from Congo or Rwanda, which are at the heart of the conflict.
According to the document dated February 18, the Paris prosecutor’s office concluded that the claims of money laundering and deceptive business practices were “not sufficiently well-founded” and decided to close the case, meaning it will not move forward. The office suggested that Congo reach out to a different office specializing in war crimes.
Neither the prosecutor’s office nor Apple provided immediate comment on the decision.
Congo’s legal team, including lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling, calling it a “very partial dismissal” that they intend to challenge. They emphasized the “extreme seriousness of the facts” and their commitment to identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the alleged crimes.
Congo is a major producer of tin, tantalum, and tungsten—minerals essential in the production of electronics like computers and mobile phones. Some artisanal mines in the region are reportedly controlled by armed groups linked to severe human rights violations, including massacres, mass rapes, and looting, according to U.N. experts and human rights organizations.
Since the 1990s, eastern Congo has been a conflict zone, with frequent battles between armed groups, some of which are supported by neighboring Rwanda, and the Congolese military.
The complaints filed in France and Belgium were initiated on behalf of Congo’s justice minister. In response, Belgium appointed an investigating magistrate in January to look into the allegations.
