French energy giant TotalEnergies is facing serious allegations of war crimes over a 2021 massacre near its multi-billion-dollar gas project in northern Mozambique, allegations the company has firmly denied. The accusations, lodged with French prosecutors by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), center on claims that local security forces linked to the company tortured and executed dozens of civilians at the Afungi peninsula facility.
TotalEnergies maintains it bears no responsibility for the actions of Mozambican government troops or other security personnel involved in guarding the site, which at the time represented the largest foreign investment in Africa. Nevertheless, human rights advocates argue that corporations operating in conflict zones cannot claim neutrality if their presence facilitates or enables abuses.
“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, ECCHR co-programme director for business and human rights.
The allegations stem from violent clashes in Cabo Delgado, a northern Mozambican province rich in natural resources, where government forces have been battling Islamist militants linked to the Islamic State. The insurgents, notorious for beheading civilians, launched a major attack on the town of Palma in March 2021. According to investigative journalist Alex Perry, 1,563 civilians were killed or kidnapped during the assault, which took place near TotalEnergies’ Afungi gas plant.
Perry, who first documented the Palma death toll and the subsequent reprisal killings outside the Total facility for Politico in 2024, described the events as “the bloodiest disaster in oil and gas history.” Locals who sought protection from government forces stationed at Total’s site were accused of collaborating with insurgents. Many men were forcibly separated from their families and held in shipping containers. While Perry identified 97 confirmed victims, he believes the true number may be twice that figure.
“Most people have never heard about any of this, in part because Total has acknowledged none of it. Today is a victory for truth, and accountability,” Perry told the BBC. TotalEnergies has yet to comment directly on the ECCHR complaint.
Mozambique Massacre: Total Faces War Crimes Charges
The incident has prompted scrutiny not only of Total but also of international financial backers. The British government initially offered financial guarantees to UK companies involved in Mozambique’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, viewing it as an unprecedented opportunity for economic development. After the Palma massacre, London suspended support, and campaigners are now calling on the UK to completely withdraw, citing the gravity of the allegations against Total.
“Total continues to demonstrate that it has learned nothing from the past: it just announced the lifting of the force majeure on its gas project, despite the dramatic security and humanitarian situation,” said Lorette Philippot of Friends of the Earth France. She urged both the UK and Dutch governments, along with French banks Société Générale and Crédit Agricole, to refuse further financial support.
Supporters of TotalEnergies argue that proceeding with the Cabo Delgado project represents a bold investment with the potential to bring economic growth to one of Africa’s most neglected regions. However, critics counter that the project is fraught with environmental, ethical, and financial risks. They draw comparisons to another French multinational, Lafarge, which is currently on trial in France alongside eight former employees over allegations that it paid jihadist groups in Syria to maintain operations at a cement plant.
The ECCHR complaint underscores the growing scrutiny of corporations operating in volatile regions, particularly those whose operations intersect with armed conflicts. Human rights groups argue that the scale of the alleged abuses in Mozambique should serve as a warning to governments, investors, and companies alike: the pursuit of profit cannot come at the expense of civilian lives.
As TotalEnergies moves forward with its LNG project, the controversy raises pressing questions about accountability, corporate responsibility, and the role of foreign investors in conflict zones. While the company and its supporters stress the potential economic benefits of the project, the shadow of the Palma massacre looms large, serving as a stark reminder of the human cost that can accompany industrial ambition in unstable regions.
Source- BBC
