The article describes events that allegedly took place from July to September 2021, three months after a major insurgent attack on the city of Palma, which led to increased militarization of the region. According to the article, Mozambican troops attacked hundreds of civilians seeking safety from the same armed forces, and imprisoned the men in windowless metal containers at the entrance to the Mozambique LNG project site. The article reports that 180 to 250 men were detained for 3 months, deprived of water, starved, beaten, asphyxiated and tortured. Most of them would eventually “disappear”. According to the investigation, only 26 of them survived. The women were reportedly subjected to repeated humiliation and sexual assault for one or two days before being released.
Anabela Lemos, director of Justiça Ambiental / Friends of the Earth Mozambique, says:
“This information1 cannot be ignored by the financial institutions that support the activities of the French oil and gas giant in Mozambique, including the financial arms of the United States, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In multiple reports and meetings, we and our partners have alerted companies, banks and states to the risks associated with this project and the serious flaws in the human rights due diligence carried out by TotalEnergies2. The responsibility of TotalEnergies is today once again questioned by this investigation into a potential new series of atrocities near the gas project. »
Alex Perry has previously published articles on the ongoing violent conflict in Cabo Delgado province and the controversial impacts of the Mozambique LNG project. Following the March and April 2021 insurgent attacks in the city of Palma, he carried out extensive surveys to assess the number of victims of the massacre3. The attacks also led to the suspension of the project by TotalEnergies in April 2021 due to force majeure.
A complaint was filed in 2023 by families of victims and survivors of the attack, accusing the French major of not having protected its subcontractors and of not having provided fuel so that helicopters could evacuate civilians during of the attack on Palma4. Following the complaint, the public prosecutor asked TotalEnergies to comment on the complaint in order to then decide whether to pursue the case, close it or continue the investigation5.
Amnesty International accused Mozambican security forces of war crimes in 20216. Until recently, TotalEnergies directly provided equipment and financial compensation to the Mozambican army’s Joint Task Force (JTF) under an agreement that the JTF would “provide security” for project activities – and is now paying the government instead7. A 2023 report commissioned by TotalEnergies concluded that this direct relationship could make TotalEnergies appear to be a party to the conflict under the Geneva Convention8.
Public and private actors involved in financial support for the project9 have been alerted to the threats that the project poses to regional security and human rights, as well as to its climatic and environmental impacts10. Information obtained through Freedom of Information requests showed that this support was maintained despite warnings and concerns expressed by decision-makers11.
Antoine Bouhey, campaign manager at Reclaim Finance, says:
« Société Générale and Crédit Agricole can no longer turn a blind eye to the Mozambique LNG project. Supporting a project with so many humanitarian, security, social and environmental risks is irresponsible – especially for a project that will not benefit local communities and Mozambique. »
Politico’s investigation into the Palma massacre draws attention to TotalEnergies’ controversial ties to the Mozambican army, and specifically questions its relationship with forces accused of serious crimes that could be considered war crimes. According to the article, “ The commandos were based in the TotalEnergies compound. They carried out their detention and execution operation from the oil giant’s makeshift gatehouse “. The Mozambican commando would also be led by an officer who declared that his mission was to protect “the Total project”. The general director of the Mozambique LNG project, Maxime Rabilloud, said that TotalEnergies had “no no knowledge of the alleged events described ” is “ no information indicating that such events took place “. Furthermore, Rabilloud said the company had no presence on the ground at the time of the possible events and that it took the “message very seriously given the seriousness of the allegations.” The article also reports that the Mozambican Ministry of Defense and the Mozambican presidency did not respond to requests for comment.
The article states that “ there is reason for a prosecutor to believe that Mozambique LNG and its parent company TotalEnergies had sufficient reason to investigate whether human rights violations were being committed by its guards in its absence ».
These atrocities, which are added to the already too many tragedies surrounding the project, must sound like a final alert.
Lorette Philippot
Campaign manager at Friends of the Earth France
« For years, we have documented Total’s failure to take into account the impact of its activities on human rights and the climate. We call on all public and private actors involved in the project and its financing to finally open their eyes and act, to guarantee truth, justice and reparation for survivors and victims’ families. », continues Lorette Philippot.
The member associations of the “Say No to Gas!” in Mozambique” call for the immediate opening of a formal international investigation into the reported events and the potential role of TotalEnergies, due to its cooperation with security forces accused of serious crimes, including rape, murder and torture, which could be considered war crimes.
Contacts presse
Statement by: Justiça Ambiental / Friends of the Earth Mozambique; Les Amis de la Terre France / Friends of the Earth France; Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands; Friends of the Earth Europe; Friends of the Earth Japan; ReCommon; Reclaim Finance.
- Environmental Justice / Friends of the Earth Mozambique: Daniel Ribeiro, [email protected], +258 86 620 5608, Anabela Lemos, [email protected], +258 87 195 3602
- Les Amis de la Terre France / Friends of the Earth France: Lorette Philippot, [email protected], +33 640188284
- ReCommon (Italy): Simone Ogno, [email protected], +39 3491303455
- Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands: Isabelle Geuskens, [email protected], 0031621829589; Marie-Sol Reindl, [email protected], +31611084291
- Friends of the Earth Europe: Paul de Clerck, [email protected], +32494380959
- Friends of the Earth Japan: Ayumi Fukakusa, [email protected], +818069170794
- Reclaim Finance : Antoine Bouhey, +33781846775
