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Congo has filed complaints over use of conflict materials

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Apple ( AAPL ) says it has told suppliers to avoid minerals from

Congo

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Lawyers launched criminal complaints in France and Belgium

By Sonia Rolley

PARIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - International lawyers for the

Democratic Republic of Congo welcomed Apple's ( AAPL ) decision

to stop sourcing minerals from there due to worsening conflict,

but said they would press ahead with their cases against the

company in Europe.

Criminal complaints were filed against Apple ( AAPL ) subsidiaries in

France and Belgium this week on behalf of Congo, accusing the

tech firm of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

Congo is a major source of tin, tantalum and tungsten,

so-called 3T minerals used in computers and mobile phones. But

some artisanal mines are run by armed groups involved in

massacres, rapes and other crimes, say U.N. experts and rights

groups.

Apple ( AAPL ) said on Tuesday that it strongly disputes the claims

and has told suppliers they must not use the minerals in

question sourced from Congo or Rwanda.

The lawyers representing Congo said on Wednesday they

welcomed that statement with "satisfaction and caution."

"Apple's ( AAPL ) statements about changes to its supply chain will

have to be verified on the ground, with facts and figures to

support them," the lawyers said in a statement to Reuters.

"Apple's ( AAPL ) statements do not change the past and the crimes

that are alleged to have been committed," they added, saying it

was now up to the French and Belgian judges to rule on the case.

There has been no comment from either nation's prosecuting

authorities.

SUPPLIERS INSTRUCTED

The lawyers argue that Apple ( AAPL ) used minerals pillaged from

Congo and laundered through international supply chains, making

it complicit in crimes taking place in Congo.

Apple ( AAPL ) does not directly source primary minerals and says it

audits suppliers, publishes findings and funds bodies that seek

to improve mineral traceability.

"As conflict in the region escalated earlier this year we

notified our suppliers that their smelters and refiners must

suspend sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC

and Rwanda," Apple ( AAPL ) said in its statement on Tuesday, using an

abbreviation for Congo's full name.

It did not say when suppliers were notified.

"We took this action because we were concerned it was no

longer possible for independent auditors or industry

certification mechanisms to perform the due diligence required

to meet our high standards."

Apple ( AAPL ) said the majority of the minerals in question in its

phones and computers are recycled.

Since the 1990s, Congo's mining heartlands in the east have

been devastated by conflict between armed groups, some backed by

neighbouring Rwanda, and the Congolese military.

Millions of civilians have died and been displaced.

Competition for minerals is one of the main drivers of

conflict as armed groups sustain themselves and buy weapons with

the proceeds of exports, often smuggled via Rwanda, according to

the U.N. experts and rights organisations.

Rwanda denies benefiting from the trade.

(Writing by Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)