The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to take action against companies that purchase or source minerals from its conflict-ridden eastern region, where smuggling exacerbates one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The government has already cautioned Apple that its acquisition of metals such as tin, tantalum, and gold may be connected to violence in Congo and smuggled through neighboring Rwanda. Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner announced that investigations into other companies are also underway, although she did not disclose their names.
“We are reassessing the broader implications of this regarding supply chains and the responsibility of companies that may be contributing to the destabilization of the region,” Kayikwamba stated in a recent interview in New York. “We are considering legal actions, but I prefer not to share further details.”
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Eastern Congo’s mineral wealth has fueled conflict for nearly three decades, particularly since the violence that erupted following the Rwandan genocide spilled over the border. The region is the world’s largest source of tantalum, a key component in portable electronics.
Kayikwamba noted that mineral smuggling from eastern provinces costs the country billions of dollars. Earlier this year, the M23 rebel group seized control of the Rubaya mine, the nation’s largest tantalum site. The U.S. and United Nations experts claim that Rwanda has sent thousands of troops to support the M23, which is one of over 100 militias active in the eastern region; Rwanda has denied these allegations.
In July, a UN group of experts stated that minerals from Rubaya were “ineligible for trade” under its due diligence guidelines due to their association with violence. Apple has previously asserted that it conducted due diligence on its supply chain and found no links to conflicts in Congo.
According to the UN, more than 6 million people are displaced in Congo, a situation that has further complicated the country’s response to a significant mpox outbreak in the eastern region, as noted by Kayikwamba.
