Apple Inc. (AAPL) is back in court over conflict minerals. International Rights Advocates has filed a lawsuit in Washington claiming the tech giant continues to source cobalt, tin, tantalum, and tungsten linked to human rights abuses and armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

The allegations aren't new territory for the advocacy group. They've sued Apple, Tesla, and others before over cobalt sourcing, though that case got dismissed. Last year, the DRC filed a similar complaint in Europe, but French prosecutors dropped it for lack of evidence. This time, International Rights Advocates is trying again with fresh arguments.

Apple pushes back hard. The company told Reuters it maintains "the industry's strongest sourcing standards" and that 99% of cobalt in its batteries now comes from recycled sources. Apple ordered suppliers in 2024 to stop sourcing from the region entirely and insists it sees "no reasonable basis" for connections to armed groups.

But the picture gets murkier when you dig into the details. A recent University of Nottingham study found forced and child labor at mine sites allegedly connected to Apple-linked suppliers. Meanwhile, UN investigators have documented massive smuggling operations moving coltan, tin, tungsten, and cobalt from eastern Congo into Rwanda.

How Minerals Move Through War Zones

"The smuggling of minerals from eastern DRC into neighboring Rwanda has reached unprecedented levels," UN experts stated in a July report. They detailed how rebel groups tax mines, seize transport routes, and ship ore across the border under falsified labels. For commodity traders, verifying whether resources come from conflict zones has become nearly impossible, yet that verification remains their responsibility.

The situation on the ground deteriorated sharply this year. The M23 rebel group seized Goma and Bukavu, tightening control over major mining hubs including the Rubaya coltan mine. That single asset, located about 50 kilometers northwest of Goma, accounts for roughly 15% of global coltan supply. The region is also rich in 3T minerals—tin, tantalum, and tungsten.

Here's where the numbers get interesting. In 2024, Rwanda officially produced 350 tons of tantalum but exported 715 tons. The UN believes rebels smuggle minerals into Rwanda, which then reports inflated domestic production figures. Even though President Donald Trump brokered a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda, M23 remains an independent threat operating outside government control.

The Traceability Problem

International Rights Advocates argues that Apple's accounting practices allow mixing recycled materials with newly mined ore. Their case hinges on a simple point: assurances about recycled content don't guarantee complete traceability and may obscure continued reliance on conflict-linked metals.

At the time of publishing, Apple has not responded to requests for additional comment.