THE conflict between Rwanda-backed forces and the DR Congo is often presented as a struggle to control the valuable minerals that power global electronics.
But the focus on “conflict minerals” may obscure other drivers of the violence in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
DRC and Rwanda together supply around half the world’s coltan, the metallic ore that is vital in making phones and laptops.
United Nations experts, rights groups and analysts say Rwanda smuggles vast amounts of coltan — as well as gold and other metals — out of eastern DRC and sells it as its own.
They accuse Rwanda of supporting an armed group, M23, that resurfaced in eastern DRC in 2021 and controls many of the region’s mines.
Last April, they seized Rubaya, whose mines produce an estimated 15 percent of the world’s coltan, according to the UN experts, who estimate the M23 earns some $800,000 per month from the trade.
The M23 last week seized the key transport hub of Goma on the Rwandan border, leaving hundreds dead, and is pushing south into the neighbouring South Kivu province.
Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer who filed a criminal case against Apple in December on behalf of the Congolese government, said Western governments and companies bear ultimate responsibility.
“The tech industry has funded Rwanda’s war crimes,” he told AFP.
Apple initially said there was “no reasonable basis for concluding” its products contain illegally exported minerals from conflict zones.
But after the criminal case was filed, Apple said it had ordered its suppliers to stop sourcing minerals from DRC and Rwanda.
Apple “has now admitted they can’t distinguish the source of the minerals,” said Amsterdam.
“It means all the supply chains of all the tech companies are all equally tainted.”
Apple has “firmly contested” the allegations, saying it is “profoundly engaged” in responsible sourcing of minerals.