An investigation by Global Witness alleges that major technology companies including Amazon, Sony, and Ericsson may have unknowingly sourced minerals from mines controlled by an armed group accused of serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The report claims these companies likely acquired coltan, a mineral essential for manufacturing electronic devices including smartphones, through supply chains connected to mines occupied by the M23 militia in eastern DRC. Coltan contains tantalum, which is used in capacitors found in electronic equipment.

The M23 militia, also known as the March 23 Movement, has been accused by human rights organizations of committing sexual violence, summary executions, and torture in the eastern regions of the DRC. The armed group has been active in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.

According to the investigation, the companies allegedly obtained the minerals through smuggling operations, though the report suggests the firms were unaware of the source. The complex supply chains for minerals from the DRC often make it difficult for companies to trace the origins of raw materials used in their products.

The eastern DRC contains significant deposits of minerals critical to the global technology industry, including coltan, gold, and tungsten. The region has experienced decades of conflict, with various armed groups competing for control of mining areas and the lucrative trade in these materials.