TotalEnergies is facing serious war crimes allegations after a human rights group filed a complaint with French prosecutors accusing the company of complicity in atrocities committed near its multi-billion-dollar gas project in northern Mozambique in 2021.
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights alleges that Mozambican security forces guarding the Afungi peninsula project tortured and executed civilians inside shipping containers at the company’s facility.
TotalEnergies has consistently denied responsibility for the actions of State forces. The violence occurred in Cabo Delgado province, where government troops were fighting Islamist militants linked to the Islamic State group. An attack on Palma in March 2021 left 1,563 civilians dead or kidnapped, with investigative journalist Alex Perry documenting both the assault and a subsequent reprisal killing near Total’s compound, identifying at least 97 victims.
The allegations have intensified pressure on international partners backing the liquefied natural gas project. Environmental groups are urging the UK and Dutch governments to withdraw financial support, arguing that the severity of the accusations should disqualify the venture from public backing. French banks Société Générale and Crédit Agricole have already stepped away. Critics argue the project has become an ethical, environmental and financial liability, despite claims by supporters that it remains a transformative investment opportunity for the region. Campaigners contend that TotalEnergies has not learned from past failures, pointing to its move to lift force majeure on the project despite ongoing instability. The case has drawn comparisons with separate legal proceedings in France against the cement giant Lafarge over alleged payments to jihadist groups in Syria.