Article
Lafarge Scandal Points to Difficulty for Businesses in War Zones
[Lafarge S.A.] announced that its chief executive...would resign after an internal investigation...found [its] Syrian [Cement Plant] operation’s managers paid off armed groups to allow safe passage for employees and keep supplies flowing...The company has argued that its local managers saw little [other] recourse...The French economy ministry is pursuing a lawsuit against the company over possible violations of international sanctions...Sherpa...accused the company of complicity in war crimes doing business with the terrorist group Islamic State...Lafarge has declined to publicize which local armed groups it funded, saying only that it involved “sanctioned parties.”...Lafarge said it would create an ethics and integrity committee...