❖ The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has protested alleged fuelling of conflict on its territory by multinationals buying “blood minerals” to fuel the energy and digital transformations.

❖ It has accused United States smartphone giant- Apple of paying for minerals without critically looking at the suppliers

.❖ Apple argued that, the tin, tungsten, tantalum — the 3Ts — and gold that its suppliers purchase is conflict free and do not finance war.

❖ The DRC’s mineral-rich eastern region, home to tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold (collectively known as 3T or 3TG), has been plagued by violence for decades.

❖ There are approximately 120 armed groups in the eastern DRC, according to the Kivu Security Tracker.

❖ These armed groups benefit from the mining and trade of minerals to varying degrees.