The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has protested alleged fuelling of conflict on its territory by multinationals buying “blood minerals” to fuel the energy and digital transformations.
It has accused United States smartphone giant- Apple of paying for minerals without critically looking at the suppliers.
Apple argued that, the tin, tungsten, tantalum — the 3Ts — and gold that its suppliers purchase is conflict free and do not finance war.
The DRC’s mineral-rich eastern region, home to tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold (collectively known as 3T or 3TG), has been plagued by violence for decades.
There are approximately 120 armed groups in the eastern DRC, according to the Kivu Security Tracker.
These armed groups benefit from the mining and trade of minerals to varying degrees.