TotalEnergies Under Fire for Mozambique Massacre Allegations
As the French energy conglomerate TotalEnergies prepares to restart its massive offshore gas project in northern Mozambique, the company is facing a legal storm in its home country.
Complaint Filed in France
Several human rights organizations have lodged a criminal complaint against TotalEnergies in France, accusing it of "involuntary manslaughter" and "failure to assist persons in danger" in connection with an alleged massacre near its liquefied natural gas (LNG) site in 2021.
According to the complaint, the company did not take sufficient measures to protect civilians in Palma, a town in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, when armed insurgents attacked. Reports indicate that dozens of people were killed, including both locals and foreign contractors, as they sought refuge near facilities linked to the gas project.
Context of the Project
TotalEnergies had suspended operations at its $20 billion LNG project in 2021 following the violent attacks in the region. The project, one of Africa's largest industrial undertakings, has been seen as vital to Mozambique’s economy but also controversial due to its alleged ties to escalating conflict and displacement.
Company Response
TotalEnergies has maintained that security in the region is the responsibility of the Mozambican government and that it prioritizes the safety of its employees and nearby communities. The firm has not yet publicly commented on the latest legal complaint but has previously expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado.
Broader Implications
The case could set a precedent for how multinational companies are held accountable in their home jurisdictions for alleged human rights abuses linked to their overseas operations.
“TotalEnergies cannot remain silent when grave crimes occur so close to its project,” said one of the NGOs involved in filing the complaint.
The French prosecutor’s office is expected to decide in the coming months whether to open a formal investigation.
Author’s Summary: Human rights groups accuse TotalEnergies of neglecting civilian safety during a deadly 2021 attack near its Mozambique gas site, prompting a potential landmark inquiry in France.
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