Global brands including Amazon, Ericsson, and Sony are 'likely' to have sourced minerals linked to a militia accused of widespread sexual violence, summary executions, and torture, according to a new investigation by Global Witness.
The companies allegedly unknowingly acquired coltan smuggled from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that are occupied by the M23 militia. Coltan is vital for producing mobile phones and computers. The mineral is smuggled across the border to Rwanda and moved on by coltan exporters used by large firms.
Supply chain tainted by violence
Alex Kopp, senior policy and advocacy adviser at Global Witness, said: 'Behind our everyday tech lies a supply chain tainted by violence, exploitation and human suffering.' He urged government intervention to hold companies accountable and for sanctions to be imposed on those whose financial activities enable M23's brutal occupation of eastern DRC.
The looted minerals come from the Rubaya site in North Kivu province, which holds about 15% of the world's coltan. M23 captured the mines two years ago and charges a levy on each kilogram. The UN estimates M23 gathers almost £600,000 a month from coltan taxation, funding its operations.
Rwanda's role
Rwanda denies backing M23, but coltan has become a major revenue stream for the country. Global Witness says five of the seven largest Rwandan coltan exporters buy conflict coltan from the DRC. The mineral then goes through middlemen to smelters in China and Kazakhstan, where it is processed into tantalum for capacitors in electronic devices.
One coltan smuggler alleged that Rwandan authorities are fully aware of the practice. Large quantities now enter Rwanda through Goma, a DRC border city taken over by M23 last year.
Failed due diligence
The investigation indicates that due diligence systems like the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (Itsci) and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) have largely failed to detect conflict coltan. Kopp said: 'The companies behind our phones, computers and cars haven’t been able or willing to clean up their supply chains.'
Global Witness urged international companies to stop buying coltan from Rwanda until M23 withdraws from Rubaya, unless they thoroughly scrutinize the coltan's origin.
Company responses
An Amazon spokesperson said they are committed to responsible mineral sourcing and will request additional due diligence from suppliers. An Ericsson spokesperson said they take the allegations seriously and are reviewing their supply chain. A Vodafone spokesperson stated they rely on certified organizations like RMI to verify sources.
