Some progress in the fight to hold Apple to account over its alleged use of DRC conflict minerals – a magistrate’s been appointed to look into the case in Belgium.
DR Congo’s action also alleges a host of other wrongdoings, all of which Apple denies.
The DRC produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, a mineral essential for lithium-ion batteries used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. Despite this, the country remains one of the poorest in the world, with millions of its citizens living in extreme poverty. On the other hand, Apple’s 2024 revenue exceeded $394 billion, with reports suggesting its profit margins are directly tied to the affordable availability of raw materials like cobalt from low-cost, high-risk regions like the DRC.