French prosecutors have opened a judicial investigation into TotalEnergies over allegations of manslaughter and failure to assist people in danger following a deadly jihadist attack in Mozambique in 2021. The energy giant, which has substantial investments in the country’s gas sector, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The attack in question took place in March 2021, when Islamist insurgents launched a coordinated assault on the port city of Palma in northern Mozambique. The violence, which lasted several days, left scores of civilians dead and forced thousands to flee, including workers tied to the Mozambique LNG project, in which TotalEnergies holds a major stake. The attack ultimately led to the suspension of the $20 billion gas project, which had been set to transform Mozambique into a leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter.
In late 2023, survivors and relatives of victims filed a legal complaint in France, alleging that TotalEnergies had failed to ensure the safety of its subcontractors and employees in Palma despite knowing the security risks in the region. The complaint led French authorities to open a preliminary inquiry, which has now escalated into a full judicial investigation.
“TotalEnergies has been informed of the opening of a judicial investigation into the Mozambique terrorist attacks of March 2021,” the company said in an emailed statement. “The company categorically rejects these accusations.”
TotalEnergies maintains that, contrary to the allegations, it played an active role in assisting those caught up in the violence. The company stated that its teams worked to provide emergency assistance and helped evacuate more than 2,500 people during the crisis.
The case is being handled by prosecutors in Nanterre, just outside Paris, and will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring TotalEnergies to trial. If the company is found liable, it could face serious legal and financial consequences, adding to the challenges it has already faced due to the suspension of its Mozambique operations.
Meanwhile, efforts to restart the Mozambique LNG project have gained momentum. Earlier this week, the U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a nearly $5 billion loan for the project, marking a crucial step towards resuming construction after the forced hiatus caused by security concerns. Other credit agencies, including those from the UK and the Netherlands, are also expected to reconfirm their financial support in the coming months.
The investigation into TotalEnergies adds another layer of complexity to the situation in northern Mozambique, where security remains fragile despite a multinational military intervention aimed at curbing the Islamist insurgency. With TotalEnergies under legal scrutiny and international financing beginning to flow back into the project, the fate of Mozambique’s LNG sector hangs in the balance.
