TotalEnergies, the operator of the Mozambique LNG project, has established a dedicated website to publish its communications in response to a criminal complaint and media allegations linking the company to war crimes, torture, and enforced disappearances in northern Mozambique.

Criminal Complaint and Allegations

A criminal complaint was filed in France by the non-profit ECCHR, accusing TotalEnergies of having "directly financed and materially supported" a Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising Mozambican armed forces. The JTF is alleged to have detained, tortured, and killed dozens of civilians in the Afungi area near the Mozambique LNG construction site during the third quarter of 2021. This complaint is supported by a Politico article published in September 2024, which centers on the death of non-combatants in a shipping container near the site.

TotalEnergies' Rejection of Accusations

TotalEnergies firmly rejects all accusations of complicity. The company states it has not been formally served with the complaint and categorically denies that Mozambique LNG or TotalEnergies had, or could have had, any knowledge of the alleged acts of violence. It emphasizes that its personnel were not present on site during the period in question, as the site was evacuated in early April 2021 following deadly terrorist attacks in March. Subsequently, the Mozambican army took control of the Afungi site to restore security, and the alleged events occurred during this initial counter-terrorism exercise.

Dispute with Politico and Publication of Communications

TotalEnergies claims it has maintained contact with Politico for several months, responding fully and transparently to its inquiries. However, the company accuses Politico of a "deliberately selective use" of its detailed responses in its reporting and of repeatedly refusing to provide access to data or evidence substantiating the events. In response, TotalEnergies has published the entirety of its exchanges with Politico on a dedicated website, allowing stakeholders to see the questions, accusatory editorial stance, and what it describes as selective cherry-picking of the company's responses.

Security Framework and Human Rights Commitments

The company clarifies that security in Mozambique is the responsibility of national authorities, and the relationship with security forces was governed by a now-expired memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the state and the project. This MoU aimed to support the logistical needs of the JTF, a joint military-police unit tasked with protecting the site, and imposed strict human rights commitments. These included training over 5000 personnel in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, establishing a grievance mechanism, and implementing procedures for removal in case of misconduct. The company states that incidents reported through this mechanism were documented transparently and that the grievances received did not substantiate the allegations made by Politico and ECCHR.

Ongoing and Past Investigations

In response to the allegations, TotalEnergies stated that Mozambique LNG formally requested the Mozambican authorities to open an official investigation in November 2024. By March 2025, Mozambique's Attorney General confirmed a criminal investigation had been launched, with Mozambique LNG fully cooperating. Additionally, TotalEnergies has requested that the Mozambique National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) conduct an independent investigation and is committed to publishing its report. The company also highlighted a past independent assessment of the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado, mandated in December 2022 and conducted by human rights expert Jean Christophe Rufin, whose report was published in May 2023, leading to the adoption of an action plan by Mozambique LNG.