LafargeHolcim finds evidence of its Syria factory paying off armed groups to protect its facilities

An internal investigation carried out by French cement giant LafargeHolcim uncovered that a Lafarge cement plant in northeast Syria’s Jalabiya indirectly paid off local armed groups to protect the facilities from being overtaken by Daesh, Al Mal reports. According to the report, the factory’s management paid an intermediary to arrange with various armed groups to allow the facility to continue operating and to protect its employees, which the company has described as “unacceptable.” The French government reportedly also suspects the company purchased oil in Syria to continue powering the plant, defying EU sanctions at the time against the Syrian government.