Members of the Rwandan police force monitor the TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG project in Afungi, Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, on September 29, 2022. Nicholas Alexander, a survivor of a large-scale jihadist raid in Cabo Delgado in 2021, expressed gratitude to the French prosecutor for opening a preliminary investigation into TotalEnergies for “involuntary manslaughter” and “failure to assist a person in danger.” The investigation was launched in October 2023 by the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, shortly after a complaint was filed by seven South African and British plaintiffs, including Mr. Alexander, accusing the oil giant and its Mozambican subsidiary of failing to protect subcontractors working on the massive natural gas production project in Cabo Delgado.
The strategic site for TotalEnergies is located 10 kilometers from the port city of Palma, in a peninsula regularly targeted by attacks from a terrorist group affiliated with ISIS, Al-Shabaab. In March 2021, the militia terrorized the area for several days, resulting in 1,298 deaths and 209 people missing, according to British journalist Alex Perry. Survivors and relatives of victims claim that the French group did not take the necessary measures to ensure the security of subcontractors, despite being aware of an imminent attack by Al-Shabaab. Additionally, during the chaos of the attack, while much of its personnel were evacuated by air, TotalEnergies allegedly did not intervene to rescue 180 people, including subcontractors and local residents, who were trapped in a besieged hotel.
TotalEnergies has not provided any comments on the allegations, but had previously denied them, stating that they had followed security procedures and evacuated many civilians seeking refuge at the site entrance. The company had reportedly made these claims in December 2023, in response to the prosecutor’s decision to consider whether to pursue further investigations or close the case. Survivors and supporters of the victims have described the incident as a “little-known terrorist act” and have expressed hope that the investigation will shed light on the tragic consequences of the attacks in Mozambique.
The tragic events in Mozambique are still fresh in the minds of many, with survivors and families of victims seeking justice for their losses. The investigation into TotalEnergies’ alleged failure to protect subcontractors and assist those in danger during the terrorist attack in Cabo Delgado has brought renewed attention to the devastating impact of the violence in the region. The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal actions will be closely monitored by the international community, as it could have implications for the accountability of multinational corporations operating in high-risk areas.
The Mozambique LNG project, which was meant to bring economic prosperity to the region, has been marred by the violence and instability caused by terrorist attacks. The security of workers and local residents remains a pressing concern, as they continue to face threats from militant groups operating in the area. The investigation into TotalEnergies’ actions during the attack will likely have implications for future security protocols and risk management strategies for similar projects in conflict-affected regions. The international community will be watching closely to ensure that justice is served and that lessons are learned from this tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future.
