I’m almost certain everyone’s heard about the new iPhone 16 coming out this year. It feels like just last year the iPhone 15 came out, and that’s probably because it did. Apple is spewing out iPhones so fast that it’s giving me and a lot of other people whiplash.
It makes me wonder – why? Well, of course, there are financial reasons; however, I feel there is another more sinister reason.
In April 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accused Apple of illegally exporting minerals from the conflict zone in the eastern region of the country to use for manufacturing their products. Earlier this year, lawyers representing the DRC government with questions regarding these accusations directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In the letter, French and US representatives for the DRC wrote that Apple’s iPhones, Mac computers and other products are “tainted by the blood of the Congolese people.”
Eastern Congo is currently the site of one of the most devastating present-day humanitarian disasters and has been in a war-torn state since the late 20th century. In short, hundreds of armed rebel groups have spent years trying to seize control of the mineral-rich mines near the border of Rwanda. The military group M23 has been recently advancing through the land. This conflict has left millions of Congolese people displaced, with many seeking asylum and refuge in other countries due to the violence that has been permeating throughout the East. The situation continues to worsen as the DRC has been fighting to receive humanitarian aid for its people.
In the midst of all the devastation, the DRC having to deal with a trillion-dollar company allegedly robbing it of its minerals is unsightly. Apple has denied using minerals from regions where the conflict is taking place, proclaiming that it conducts its business ethically and “responsibly” sources minerals from the DRC and its neighboring countries. They’ve also denied that any of the minerals the company buys don’t finance the conflict or the armed groups, but the DRC stands firm on its allegations.
“In Congo, people have been dying for 30 years as a result of illegal mining,” Congo government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said. “We want clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies, in particular Apple, to verify whether they are acquiring minerals produced in completely illegal conditions.”
With Apple’s history of exploitation, it’s no wonder why the DRC’s government would suspect that Apple could have conflict minerals in its supply chain.
Aside from the controversy in the DRC, the iPhone 16’s new release has been sparking so much conversation on social media that I’ve been seeing less and less content about Palestine. It seems it’s been completely overshadowed although Palestine still isn’t free. Israel is still occupying Palestinian land and committing unspeakable atrocities against the Palestinian people. It’s been reported that over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas’ October 7 attack, and this is likely an underreported number. More than 85% of the Palestinian population have fled their homes since October. Every day, Palestinians lose their lives at the hands of the Israeli military, and there has yet to be a permanent ceasefire.
Palestinian and Congolese people count on us to continue to shed light on the genocide taking place in their countries. But I’ve seen recently that people have stopped talking about Palestine and the DRC, and started talking about things that don’t matter, like the new iPhone 16.
As privileged as we are, we’re lucky to be able to indulge in new phones and use those very phones to scroll through social media. It is easy to bypass the humanitarian crises that are happening in other countries. However, we have to remember that the people living in it don’t have that option. We have the opportunity to spread awareness with our social media access and keep bringing awareness to the senseless tragedies happening in this world.
But then again, who cares right? After all, the iPhone 16 comes in pink!
