TotalEnergies issued a detailed statement this month dismissing allegations submitted to France’s National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat) that the company or the Mozambique LNG project was involved in alleged war crimes or abuses said to have been committed by Mozambican forces in 2021.
The complaint, filed against persons unknown as well as the company, followed a September 2024 Politico report asserting that Mozambican soldiers carried out alleged abuses near the LNG site between June and September 2021. TotalEnergies said on Wednesday that it had not been formally notified of the filing and “firmly rejects” the accusations.
The company noted that all Mozambique LNG staff had already left the Afungi site in early April 2021, soon after the Islamic State–affiliated Al-Shabab attack on Palma in March 2021. After the evacuation, Mozambique’s military assumed control of the installation, including the port and airport.
TotalEnergies said internal assessments and consultations with relevant stakeholders produced no indication that the company knew the alleged acts at the time. It added that it repeatedly asked Politico to provide material supporting its claims, stating that none had been submitted. All correspondence between the company and the publication has been posted on a dedicated website.
In November 2024, Mozambique LNG formally requested that Mozambican authorities initiate an official investigation. The Attorney General confirmed in March 2025 that a criminal inquiry was in progress. TotalEnergies also asked the National Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent review and committed to releasing the commission’s findings.
The company said the project’s security arrangements, as with other LNG developments globally, were handled by national forces under a now-expired Memorandum of Understanding that addressed human rights training, grievance procedures, and provisions for removing personnel in cases of misconduct. It added that grievances recorded through these channels did not substantiate the claims referenced by Politico or the new complaint.
Holding a 26.5% interest in the Mozambique LNG venture, TotalEnergies said the project has been on pause since 2021 due to the regional security situation. The company reiterated its long-term commitment to Cabo Delgado, pointing to earlier humanitarian assessments that informed expanded community-support programs.
