US jury finds French bank BNP Paribas complicit in Sudan atrocities

French banking giant BNP Paribas has been found liable for its role in propping up the Sudanese regime under former dictator Omar al-Bashir. A New York jury awarded $20.75 million to three plaintiffs originally from Sudan, who were tortured, burned, and sexually assaulted by Sudanese soldiers and government-linked militia known as the Janjaweed.

The jury, which heard testimony describing the atrocities committed during the regime's brutal crackdown on minority groups, concluded that BNP Paribas's financial services were a "natural and adequate cause" of the harm suffered by the survivors. The bank had provided letters of credit to the Sudanese government, enabling it to honor import and export commitments and receive billions of dollars from buyers.

The plaintiffs claimed that the bank's actions facilitated the regime's ability to continue exporting commodities, including cotton and oil, which helped finance its operations. Defence lawyers argued that there was no connection between the bank's conduct and the harm suffered by the plaintiffs, claiming that global institutions such as the IMF partnered with the Sudanese government during the same period.

However, prosecutors countered that BNP Paribas had knowingly turned a blind eye to the consequences of its actions. The jury verdict is seen as a major victory for justice and accountability, with one lawyer stating that financial institutions cannot ignore the impact of their actions on human rights abuses.

The ruling comes after BNP Paribas pleaded guilty in 2014 to transferring billions of dollars for Sudanese entities subject to economic sanctions. The US government recognized the Sudanese conflict as a genocide in 2004, resulting in over 300,000 deaths and displacing 2.5 million people between 2002 and 2008.

The verdict is likely to have significant implications for BNP Paribas, with defence lawyers already vowing to appeal the ruling. The bank's involvement in propping up the Sudanese regime has been widely criticized, and this verdict brings much-needed justice to the victims of human rights abuses.

I dont get why we need these huge jury awards, its just gonna end up in some law firm's pocket anyway... like what good is that really? seems to me just a way for people with deep pockets to stick it to the man. and whats with all these "natural and adequate causes" of harm, sounds like lawyer speak to me... cant we just hold banks accountable without making them out to be villains?

just heard about this crazy verdict it's wild that a French banking giant can get hit with a $20m fine for basically being complicit in human rights atrocities i mean, we all know how corrupt some of these institutions can be but come on, $20m is peanuts considering what these people went through they were literally tortured and burned alive by janjaweed soldiers... 300k deaths and 2.5 mil displaced? that's not something to be taken lightly i'm glad there are still good guys out there fighting for justice in the financial world

This verdict is a huge deal, you know? BNP Paribas has been hiding behind some shady financial dealings for years, and now they're finally being held accountable. I mean, it's not like they were just innocent bystanders - they actively profited from the Sudanese regime's atrocities. The fact that the jury said their actions directly contributed to the plaintiffs' harm is pretty clear-cut.

I'm also not surprised by the defense lawyers trying to spin this as some kind of conspiracy involving global institutions. Look, I get it, there might be complexities at play here, but let's not forget the $20.75 million verdict - that's a direct result of BNP Paribas's reckless behavior.

This is a huge win for accountability and justice, especially in cases like this where big banks think they're above the law. It sends a message that financial institutions have to start taking responsibility for their actions, and that won't be popular with everyone - but it's long overdue.

its crazy how a big bank like bnp paribas can get away with helping fund a super brutal regime . i mean, i know they said it was just about giving letters of credit and stuff but come on, that sounds like an excuse to me . its not like they didn't know what was going on in sudan, they knew the janjaweed were doing crazy things to innocent people . so yeah, $20.75 million is a pretty sweet victory for the plaintiffs . cant wait to see how bnp paribas handles this - i hope they get slammed with some serious fines

I think this verdict is a huge step forward for holding financial institutions accountable for their actions. It's crazy that BNP Paribas thought they could just enable the Sudanese regime's atrocities by providing them with letters of credit, and then claim innocence when it all went down in flames . The fact that they pleaded guilty in 2014 but only now get held liable is a total shame, and I'm glad these three plaintiffs finally got some justice .

It's also super interesting to see how the defence lawyers tried to spin this whole thing by claiming the IMF was involved too , but it's clear as day that BNP Paribas had a special arrangement with the Sudanese government that put their profits above human rights. I mean, come on, who does that?

What really gets me is how many people lost so much during this conflict - over 300,000 deaths and 2.5 million displaced . It's sickening to think that BNP Paribas made billions off the backs of those innocent people, and now they have to answer for it .

This verdict is going to send shivers down the spines of every financial institution out there, making them think twice before turning a blind eye to human rights abuses . It's about time, if you ask me!

omg what's going on? so basically BNP Paribas gets sued by 3 ppl from sudan who got tortured & stuff for being in the wrong place at the wrong time lol they're saying the bank helped fund the sudanese gov by giving them letters of credit that allowed them to export goods and keep getting $$$ but the bank is all like "idk what you're talking about" meanwhile the jury's all like "nope, we see how it played out" $20.75 million seems kinda small considering what they went through but I guess it's a start? hopefully this sets an example for other banks to be more mindful of their actions and not just focus on making $$$

just seen this news $20.75 mil is a drop in the ocean for what they did tho think about all those lives lost & maimed cuz of BNP Paribas' profits anyway, glad they got some semblance of justice can't believe these big banks think they're above human rights

I'm so shocked by this verdict ! Like, I knew BNP Paribas had some serious skeletons in their closet, but $20.75 million is just crazy talk . And honestly, can't blame the plaintiffs one bit - those guys went through hell and back, and they deserve justice . The fact that the bank tried to spin this as the IMF's fault is just laughable . It's like, come on, BNP Paribas knew what was going down in Sudan and chose to ignore it. Financial institutions can't just sit there and watch human rights abuses happen - they have a responsibility to act . I hope this verdict sends some serious waves through the financial world and makes them think twice about turning a blind eye to atrocities .

I'm so done with these online forums . Can't we just have a decent discussion without all the drama? Anyway, I was reading about BNP Paribas and how they're finally being held accountable for their role in propping up the Sudanese regime under Omar al-Bashir. 20.75 million dollars is a crazy amount of money, but what's even crazier is that it's about time someone took responsibility for their actions .

I mean, can you imagine if this were to happen in real life? You'd be walking down the street and suddenly, BAM! You get hit with $20.75 million dollars because some bank enabled a regime to continue committing human rights abuses . No thanks! The IMF partnering with the Sudanese government is just a weak excuse for BNP Paribas's negligence.

This verdict is long overdue and I'm glad it's finally happening . It shows that justice can be served, even if it takes years (or in this case, 10 years after pleading guilty ). Now, let's just hope the bank doesn't appeal and we get to see some real change .

Wow $20.75 million is crazy! Interesting how one bank can have such a huge impact on global events. BNP Paribas must've thought they were just doing business as usual, but now they're paying the price . It's about time they held accountable for their actions and helped bring some justice to those who suffered under Omar al-Bashir's regime .

I remember when we used to talk about Sudan like it was a different country ... I mean, 20 bucks million is crazy for one bank tho! It's amazing how BNP Paribas got caught up in all that drama back in the day . These plaintiffs deserve so much more than just $20.75 million, you know? They went through hell and survived, and this verdict should be a slap on the wrist for BNP Paribas... I guess they'll have to pay the price for their sins . It's good that justice is being served, even if it's 11 years late . The US government recognizing the Sudanese conflict as a genocide back in 2004 was a major step forward, and now BNP Paribas has finally been held accountable . I just wish more people were paying attention to human rights issues back then...

what's wild is that BNP Paribas was able to get away with so much financial gain from supporting a brutal regime for years, meanwhile the ppl who suffered the most are finally getting some kinda closure. 20 mil is a drop in the bucket considering all they went through but it's better than nothing

omg just saw this news and i'm shook! bnp paribas getting hit with a $20.75 million verdict is like, a major wake up call for the banking industry . it's crazy that they're being held accountable for their role in propping up the sudanese regime under omar al-bashir. i mean, we all know about the atrocities that went down during his reign of terror, and now it looks like justice is finally being served .

it's wild to think that bnp paribas knew exactly what they were doing when they provided letters of credit to the sudanese government, and yet they just ignored the consequences . this verdict sends a major message to financial institutions everywhere: you can't just ignore human rights abuses and expect to get away with it .

anyway, i'm all about that justice and accountability life . let's hope bnp paribas takes this as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and do some real change .

man... this verdict feels like a reminder that our actions have consequences . we think we're just making money, settling transactions, but are we really considering the impact on people's lives? it's crazy to me how BNP Paribas thought they could just turn a blind eye to what was happening in Sudan... and now they're paying for it . it's not just about the bank, though - it's about all of us. we need to think about where our money is going, who's profiting from our actions. it's time for some real accountability .

This ruling is super important . I mean, BNP Paribas was basically profiting from a regime that was committing all these heinous crimes against its own people. It's crazy to think about how some big banks can just turn a blind eye to the harm they're causing. The fact that they're now facing accountability is a major step forward .

It's not just about the victims of torture and human rights abuses, but also about setting a precedent for other financial institutions to take responsibility for their actions. If BNP Paribas can be held liable, then it sends a message that these kind of atrocities won't be swept under the rug .

I'm glad to see some justice being served . But at the same time, I worry about what this might mean for the bank's future and how it'll impact their reputation. Maybe we'll see more accountability from big banks in the future?

This verdict is a game-changer ! I'm glad to see justice being served for those who suffered under the brutal regime. It's outrageous that BNP Paribas thought they could just turn a blind eye to the harm caused by their actions, but it looks like the law has finally caught up with them . The fact that they provided financial services that helped prop up the regime and facilitate human rights abuses is unacceptable . I'm not surprised that the defence lawyers are already planning an appeal, but this verdict sends a clear message: no more impunity for banks that enable human rights abuses . It's long overdue that we hold corporations accountable for their actions, and I hope this sets a precedent for future cases .

I think it's absolutely devastating that a major international bank like BNP Paribas could be involved in enabling such atrocities without anyone questioning it. I mean, can you even imagine if a corporation was doing the same thing in your hometown? It's just unconscionable that they were essentially helping to fund a regime that was inflicting so much suffering on innocent people.

The fact that they had these letters of credit that basically allowed the Sudanese government to continue trading and getting money, it's like a never-ending supply line for human rights abuses. And meanwhile, the global institutions like the IMF are just standing by and letting this happen, it's ridiculous. It's like they're saying "oh, we can't stop you because of economic interests".

This verdict is so important because it shows that there are still people willing to stand up for what's right, even when it's hard. It's not just about the bank getting fined or losing some money, it's about acknowledging the harm they caused and taking responsibility for it. I think this sets a really important precedent for other financial institutions and global players.

I think it's kinda harsh to say that BNP Paribas is fully responsible for the atrocities committed by the Sudanese regime. I mean, they did provide financial services to the government, but didn't they also have to deal with international sanctions and whatnot? It's not like they were just swimming in money without a care in the world...

And let's be real, global institutions like the IMF are also complicit in this whole thing. They're partnering with the Sudanese gov't during the same time, so it's not like BNP Paribas was the only one turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.

I'm all for justice and accountability, but we gotta be careful not to scapegoat an entire institution for the sins of those in power. It's too easy to blame the bank for everything...

This verdict is like something out of 'The Pursuit of Happyness' for those Sudanese survivors... 20 million dollars isn't gonna bring back their loved ones or heal those scars but it's a major step towards accountability, you know? BNP Paribas had no business helping that regime and now they're gonna have to face the music. It's like what happened to Jordan Belfort in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' - they thought they were above the law, but not anymore! This verdict is a reminder that financial giants gotta keep it real when it comes to human rights, no room for excuses or business-as-usual attitudes