French Court Finds Lafarge Guilty of Financing Terrorism in Syria Operations Case

Mintesinot Nigussie

French cement maker Lafarge has been found guilty in France of financing terrorism after a court ruled it paid millions of dollars to jihadist groups, including Islamic State, to sustain its operations in Syria during the civil war.

The Paris court said Lafarge made payments of about 6.5 million US dollars between 2013 and 2014 to armed groups in northern Syria. The funds were used to secure staff movement, maintain access to raw materials, and keep its plant in Jalabiya operating.

The court found that the payments extended to Islamic State and Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda-linked group designated as a terrorist organisation. Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez said the arrangement effectively enabled proscribed organisations to gain financial resources used to support attacks across the Middle East and Europe.

Eight former employees were also convicted of financing terrorism. Former chief executive Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault received a five-year sentence. Syrian former employee Firas Tlass was sentenced in absentia to seven years.

Lafarge, now owned by Swiss group Holcim, said it accepted the ruling, describing the case as a legacy matter involving conduct that occurred more than a decade ago and breached its code of conduct.

The company acquired the Jalabiya plant in northern Syria in 2008 and began operations in 2010, shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Payments continued until September 2014. The case marks the first time a company has been tried in France for financing terrorism.

Businesses in construction, cement manufacturing and international operations are closely watching the outcome, as it sets a precedent for corporate accountability in conflict zones.

Overall, the guilty verdict against Lafarge for financing terrorism highlights the legal risks companies face when operating in war-torn regions and the growing scrutiny of corporate payments to armed groups.