BNP Paribas disputes the US verdict deeming it complicit in abuses in Sudan during the 2000s
On October 20, 2025, BNP Paribas announced its intention to appeal the decision made by a federal jury in New York, which found that the bank had facilitated crimes committed by Omar al-Bashir's Sudanese regime in the 2000s through its financial services.
A groundbreaking decision from the US justice system
On October 17, 2025, a federal jury in the Southern District of New York found BNP Paribas civilly liable for indirectly contributing to severe human rights violations in Sudan.
Three Sudanese refugees, now American citizens, accused the bank of enabling Omar al-Bashir's government to bypass U.S. sanctions between 2002 and 2008 by providing it with financial services in U.S. dollars.
According to the plaintiffs, these operations helped the regime finance military campaigns and acts of repression, particularly in Darfur. The jury accepted this argument and awarded $20.5 million in damages to the three victims.
This verdict, based on the Alien Tort Statute—which allows foreign nationals to bring suits in U.S. courts against companies accused of complicity in international crimes—marks a precedent for a foreign bank.
How BNP Paribas is Responding: An Immediate Call
In a statement released on October 20, 2025, BNP Paribas firmly contested the judgment, which it describes as « erroneous."
The bank believes that certain pieces of evidence could not be presented during the proceedings and stated that it intends to use all available legal remedies to overturn the decision.
“BNP Paribas considers the verdict unfounded and intends to challenge it on appeal.”The group clarifies that the dispute only concerns the three plaintiffs mentioned in this case and that no significant financial or operational consequences are expected at this stage.
— Excerpt from the official statement on October 20, 2025.
The bank has not detailed the timeline for the appeal or the legal strategy being considered.
A case separate from the 2014 criminal settlement
The case indirectly refers to facts already mentioned in another matter: in 2014, BNP Paribas pleaded guilty to violating US sanctions against Sudan, Cuba, and Iran by processing dollar transactions for sanctioned entities. The group then agreed to pay a record fine of $8.97 billion, ending the criminal proceedings initiated by the Department of Justice (DoJ).
However, the 2025 trial is different: it is no longer a regulatory dispute but a civil action brought by alleged victims, aiming to establish a causal link between banking activities and crimes committed by an authoritarian regime. The plaintiffs' lawyers argued that the bank enabled Sudan to access the international financial system, thus facilitating the purchase of weapons and the funding of its armed forces.
Significant Legal and Reputational Implications
This verdict raises an unprecedented debate about the responsibility of financial institutions in human rights violations.
By recognizing a causal link between financial flows and war crimes, the US justice system is paving the way for legal action that could implicate other banking or industrial entities.
On the markets, the announcement of the verdict led to approximately an 8% drop in BNP Paribas stock on the Paris Stock Exchange on October 20, before a slight rebound during the day. Analysts, however, believe that the direct financial impact will remain limited, unless there is an increase in similar legal proceedings.
The appeal, which BNP Paribas is expected to formally file in the coming weeks, could last several years.
It will need to determine whether US judges can legitimately establish extraterritorial civil liability for a European bank for actions committed abroad, in the context of international sanctions. For France's leading bank, the stakes extend beyond the judicial question: it is also about demonstrating its compliance and ethical commitment in an increasingly scrutinized financial environment.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
