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Article

15 Feb 2010

Author:
Global Witness

Metals in mobile phones financing brutal war in Congo

Metals found in everyday electronics items, such as mobile phones and computers, are being mined illegally in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and funding a conflict that has caused millions of deaths, said Global Witness on the opening day of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona…"It is time for electronics companies to show they are serious about eliminating conflict minerals from their supply chains," said Global Witness campaigner Daniel Balint-Kurti…International smelting firms purchase minerals from Congolese trading houses which source them from zones held by armed groups and military units. Electronics companies could help stop this by demanding evidence from these processors that their products are conflict-free, as a condition of purchase. However few, if any, have taken this step…