French prosecutors have closed a case filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Apple’s European subsidiaries, dismissing allegations of war crimes, money laundering, forgery, and fraud linked to the use of conflict minerals in the company’s supply chain, according to a document seen by a Western media outlet.
The Paris prosecutor’s office determined that the accusations were “not sufficiently well-founded” to proceed, the report said. Prosecutors reportedly advised the DRC to take its complaint to an office with jurisdiction over war crimes instead.
The DRC had initially lodged criminal complaints against Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium in December, arguing that the tech giant indirectly benefited from minerals sourced from conflict zones.
Lawyers representing the DRC called the decision a “very partial dismissal” and vowed to challenge it, stressing “the extreme seriousness of the facts denounced and the need to identify and prosecute those responsible.”
Apple has denied the allegations, stating that it does not source minerals from conflict-affected areas in the DRC or Rwanda. The company maintains that its suppliers are required to adhere to strict ethical sourcing guidelines.
