A French energy company is facing war crimes allegations, which it denies, over a massacre near its multi-billion-dollar international gas project in northern Mozambique in 2021.
In a complaint filed with French prosecutors, a human rights group accused TotalEnergies of complicity in war crimes, including the torture and execution of dozens of civilians held by local security forces in a cluster of shipping containers at its facility.
Total has always denied responsibility for the actions of government troops involved in guarding the gas refinery development on the Afungi peninsula.
It was the biggest foreign investment project in Africa at the time.
The complaint was filed by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a human rights group.
Companies and their executives are not neutral actors when they operate in conflict zones. If they enable or fuel crimes, they might be complicit and should be held accountable, said Clara Gonzales, the ECCHR's co-programme director for business and human rights.
The massacre occurred during a battle in Cabo Delgado province, where government troops were engaged with violent Islamist militants. In March 2021, Islamists attacked the town of Palma, killing or kidnapping 1,563 civilians near the TotalEnergies gas plant.
Investigative journalist Alex Perry highlighted the horrors of the Palma incident, describing it as the bloodiest disaster in oil and gas history.
The exact number of civilians subsequently killed by Mozambican forces is unclear. Some estimates suggest 97 victims, but the true figure could be double that.
Local residents seeking assistance were accused of collaborating with insurgents, leading to their detention and mistreatment.
Despite the serious allegations, TotalEnergies announced plans to proceed with its gas project, prompting environmentalists and rights advocates to call for a reevaluation of financial support from governments.
Total’s actions continue to spark debate over corporate ethics in conflict regions, especially in light of its decisions amidst ongoing humanitarian concerns.
