TotalEnergies Accused of Complicity in War Crimes Over Mozambique Massacre
PARIS – French energy giant TotalEnergies is facing formal war crimes allegations for its alleged role in a 2021 massacre near its multi-billion dollar gas project in northern Mozambique, according to a complaint filed with French prosecutors.
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a Berlin-based non-profit, has accused the company of “enabling” abuses committed by Mozambican security forces tasked with protecting its Afungi Peninsula site. The alleged atrocities include the torture and execution of dozens of civilians who were held in shipping containers on the company’s premises.
The complaint centers on a devastating attack on the nearby town of Palma in March 2021 by Islamist militants linked to the Islamic State group. During the assault, which killed or abducted 1,563 civilians, Mozambican government forces were deployed to secure the area around TotalEnergies’ compound, then the largest foreign investment in Africa.
It is in this context that the alleged war crimes by the security forces occurred. The ECCHR asserts that TotalEnergies, by providing the base and logistical support, shares responsibility for the conduct of the troops.
TotalEnergies has consistently and vehemently denied any responsibility for the actions of the government troops. The company maintains that it cannot be held accountable for the conduct of state security forces assigned to protect its project and personnel.
The region of Cabo Delgado has been ravaged by an insurgency since 2012, creating a complex and volatile security situation. The legal action against TotalEnergies highlights the increasing scrutiny of multinational corporations’ roles in conflict zones and their potential liability for human rights abuses committed by their security partners.
The French prosecutors will now decide whether to open a formal investigation into the war crimes allegations against the energy company.
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