India, April 30 -- DRC's mineral-rich eastern region, home to tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, has been plagued by violence for decades

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has warned United States tech giant Apple to desist from using what it calls "blood minerals" drawn from the impoverished Central African country or face legal action.

In an April 22 letter addressed to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, American and French lawyers representing the DRC accused the company of buying minerals that are illicitly transported from the DRC to Rwanda. These minerals' origins are purportedly concealed, allowing them to infiltrate the global technology supply chain. The DRC government says it will seek legal redress if the company continues ...