The French energy conglomerate TotalEnergies has urged the Mozambican government to expedite an independent investigation into allegations of a massacre at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) megaproject in northern Mozambique. This follows damning reports of severe human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by a Mozambican military unit stationed near the company’s Afungi site in Cabo Delgado province.
TotalEnergies, through its subsidiary Mozambique LNG, stated it had conducted an internal review of the claims but found no corroborating evidence to substantiate allegations of killings, torture, and disappearances. The company has reiterated its willingness to cooperate with Mozambican authorities to uncover the truth, emphasising the need for transparency.
The allegations surfaced in September, when multiple survivors and witnesses described harrowing abuses, including the detention of 180 to 250 individuals in containers at the gas facility’s gatehouse for three months. Reports claimed that only 26 individuals survived the ordeal, with others succumbing to suffocation, beatings, shootings, or enforced disappearances. The atrocities are alleged to have occurred under the custody of Mozambican forces.
The Mozambican Ministry of Defence has pledged “total openness” to an independent investigation. However, critics argue that allowing the Mozambican government to oversee the probe raises concerns about impartiality. Advocacy groups, including Friends of the Earth, have called for an international inquiry led by the United Nations, citing a potential conflict of interest given the military’s alleged involvement.
A joint investigation by Le Monde and Source Material, published earlier this month, corroborated survivor accounts, further intensifying calls for accountability. Meanwhile, protests have erupted on the Afungi peninsula, where local residents have blockaded the gas project’s gates, demanding justice and respect for human rights.
TotalEnergies has faced mounting scrutiny over its operations in Cabo Delgado, a region long plagued by insurgent violence and socio-economic marginalisation. Work at the $20 billion LNG facility was suspended in 2021 after Islamist militants launched attacks in the area. Despite these challenges, TotalEnergies has maintained its commitment to resuming operations once security conditions improve.
The controversy has placed the company in a precarious position, balancing its economic interests with mounting pressure to address allegations of complicity in human rights violations. Critics argue that TotalEnergies’ reliance on local authorities to investigate the claims reflects poorly on its commitment to justice.
Calls for a robust, independent investigation are growing louder, with activists and European lawmakers urging greater accountability for multinational corporations operating in conflict zones. As the situation unfolds, TotalEnergies’ reputation and the future of its flagship LNG project remain uncertain.
