A Washington-based advocacy organization, International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates), has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of sourcing minerals tied to human rights abuses and armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

The complaint, lodged in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, alleges that Apple’s supply chain includes cobalt, tin, tantalum, and tungsten mined under conditions of child and forced labor, and controlled by armed groups. According to the suit, three Chinese smelters—Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co., JiuJiang JinXin Nonferrous Metals Co., and Jiujiang Tanbre Co.—processed coltan smuggled through Rwanda after rebels seized mines in eastern DRC. A 2025 University of Nottingham study is cited as evidence linking these materials to Apple’s suppliers.

IRAdvocates seeks a court declaration that Apple’s marketing is deceptive under consumer protection laws, an injunction to halt the practices, and legal costs. The group is not pursuing monetary damages or a class action.

Apple has denied wrongdoing, insisting that it instructs suppliers to avoid sourcing from DRC/Rwanda and conducts audits to enforce compliance. In December 2024, French prosecutors dropped a similar case against Apple subsidiaries for lack of evidence, though a Belgian investigation remains ongoing.

The DRC supplies about 70% of global cobalt and significant amounts of tin, tantalum, and tungsten. Armed groups have long profited from these minerals, fueling violence that has left thousands dead and millions displaced.

This lawsuit follows a dismissed 2023 case against Apple and Tesla over cobalt sourcing. IRAdvocates says its goal is to force greater transparency in tech supply chains and hold corporations accountable for indirect links to conflict minerals.