Apple has once more declared its supply chain free of minerals that directly fund armed groups in central Africa. The company’s latest report to regulators states there exists no reasonable basis to conclude that any of the 234 smelters and refiners processing tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold for its products in 2024 financed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or neighboring states. The finding comes at a delicate moment. Advocacy groups and the Congolese government itself have accused the iPhone maker of turning a blind eye to smuggling routes that launder minerals from militia-controlled mines through Rwanda. Yet Apple’s data paints a picture of rigorous oversight. For the tenth year running, 100 percent of identified smelters participated in independent third-party audits. Since 2009 the company has removed 203 such facilities from its network. The Apple Conflict Minerals Report for 2024 leaves little room for ambiguity.…