Banking giant BNP Paribas faces probe over Sudan crimes

French prosecutors are reported to have opened an inquiry into the banking giant BNP Paribas over allegations it was complicit in genocide, torture and crimes against humanity in Sudan.

The complaint was filed by nine Sudanese victims, backed by rights groups, a year ago and it concerns crimes that occurred between 2002 and 2008, particularly in the Darfur region.

BNP Paribas was considered the Sudanese regime's "de facto central bank" at the time despite international sanctions, according to the International Federation for Human Rights, who announced the opening of the inquiry on social media on Thursday.

An investigating magistrate will decide after the probe whether to bring the bank before a court.

A criminal investigation has also been opened against BNP in France for alleged complicity in the 1994 genocide of Rwanda's Tutsi minority.