French Prosecutors Probe TotalEnergies Over Mozambique Attack Deaths

French prosecutors have launched an investigation into oil giant TotalEnergies for possible involuntary manslaughter in connection with a devastating 2021 jihadist attack in Mozambique that claimed hundreds of lives. The probe follows a legal complaint brought by victims' families and survivors, accusing the French energy company of failing to protect its subcontractors and provide fuel for helicopter evacuations during the assault on the port town of Palma.

Why this matters: This investigation has significant implications for the accountability of multinational corporations operating in conflict zones, and it may set a precedent for holding companies responsible for the safety of their employees and subcontractors. The outcome of this case could also influence the future of large-scale energy projects in regions prone to violence and instability.

The attack, carried out by Islamic State-linked militants on March 24, 2021, lasted several days and killed dozens in Palma, located in the northern Cabo Delgado province. Some victims were brutally beheaded, while thousands fled their homes. TotalEnergies was developing a major liquefied gas project in the region at the time.

Seven British and South African complainants, including three survivors and four relatives of victims, accuse TotalEnergies of failing to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of its subcontractors, despite knowing the danger posed by the Al-Shabab group. The jihadist organization, unrelated to the Somali group of the same name, had been active in Cabo Delgado since 2017. "The danger was known," said Henri Thulliez, the complainants' lawyer, in 2023.

TheFrench investigationseeks to establish whether TotalEnergies is guilty of non-assistance to people in danger. Nicholas Alexander, a South African attack survivor, believes"TotalEnergies bore a share of responsibility"in the tragedy. Anabela Lemos, an activist at Friends of the Earth Mozambique, argues that"the negative effects of the French oil major's Mozambique operations went beyond the 2021 attack because of environmental 'destruction' and 'deaths' as a result of its presence there."

TotalEnergies has denied the accusations, stating that it "firmly rejects" them and had supplied emergency aid while facilitating the evacuation of 2,500 people from the plant. The company's $20-billion project to develop a large gas field on the Afungi peninsula was halted following the 2021 attack, but chairman Patrick Pouyanne has since expressed hope of reviving it.

Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries despite its vast natural resources, has faced insurgencies from Islamist groups for much of the past decade. The discovery of significant natural gas deposits in 2010 in the Muslim-majority northern province raised hopes for the project's potential to boost the nation's economy. However, the endeavor has faced criticism from NGOs, who argue that it threatens local ecosystems and the global climate while failing to benefit local communities.

In November 2023, a group of 124 NGOs posted an open letter to dozens of financial institutions, urging them to withdraw from the project due to humanitarian and security risks, as well as environmental concerns. The outcome of theFrench investigationinto TotalEnergies' alleged involuntary manslaughter will determine whether the case is dropped or if the probe is intensified with a view to bringing possible charges against the oil giant.

Key Takeaways

• French prosecutors investigate TotalEnergies for possible involuntary manslaughter in 2021 Mozambique attack.
• 7 British and South African complainants accuse TotalEnergies of failing to protect subcontractors and provide fuel for evacuations.
• The attack killed hundreds, and TotalEnergies' $20-billion gas project was halted, but may be revived.
• NGOs criticize the project for environmental and humanitarian risks, and failing to benefit local communities.
• The investigation's outcome may set a precedent for holding companies accountable for employee and subcontractor safety in conflict zones.