Total Faces War Crimes Allegations Over 2021 Mozambique Massacre

French energy giant TotalEnergies is facing serious allegations of war crimes linked to a massacre that took place near its multibillion dollar gas project in northern Mozambique in 2021. The company strongly denies any wrongdoing, insisting it bears no responsibility for the actions of local security forces involved in guarding the site.

The complaint was filed in France by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, a human rights organisation that accused the company of complicity in war crimes. According to the filing Mozambican soldiers allegedly detained dozens of civilians in shipping containers on the Afungi peninsula and subjected them to torture and execution during counter insurgency operations. The complaint claims these acts occurred near Total’s project compound and that the company benefited from the protection provided by the forces involved.

TotalEnergies has long rejected accusations of involvement. It has maintained that the actions of government troops and associated security units fall entirely under the authority of the Mozambican state. The gas development, located in the resource rich Cabo Delgado province, was the largest foreign investment project in Africa at the time but has been overshadowed by escalating violence in the region.

The human rights group behind the complaint argues that companies operating in conflict zones must be held accountable for the impact of their activities. Clara Gonzales, co programme director for business and human rights at the ECCHR, said that corporations cannot claim neutrality when working in areas of active conflict. She stated that if their presence or operations contribute to abuses they should face consequences.

Cabo Delgado has suffered years of violent attacks by Islamist militants linked to the Islamic State group who have gained a reputation for brutal killings including beheadings. In March 2021 insurgents launched a major assault on the town of Palma near Total’s project site. The attack resulted in the deaths or disappearance of more than one thousand five hundred civilians according to investigative journalist Alex Perry who documented the events.

Perry’s reporting also uncovered a later reprisal massacre carried out by Mozambican forces at the entrance to Total’s compound. Civilians who had sought safety at the facility were accused of aiding militants. Men were separated from the group and detained in shipping containers. Perry identified ninety seven people who were killed but believes the true number could be far higher. He described the incident as one of the worst disasters in the history of the oil and gas sector.

He told the BBC that the filing of the complaint represents a step toward accountability in a case that has received little global attention.

The British government had previously offered financial guarantees for UK companies involved in the Mozambique gas project but suspended its support after the violence in Palma. Environmental groups are now pressuring the government to withdraw completely arguing that the severity of the allegations should serve as a decisive warning for international backers.