Seven survivors and relatives of victims of a 2021 attack in northern Mozambique have filed a legal complaint against TotalEnergies, a French energy company, on the grounds of insufficient protection for contractors working at a multi-billion-dollar gas field. The plaintiffs, consisting of three survivors and four relatives of victims from the attack, allege that TotalEnergies failed to ensure the safety of local suppliers involved in its $20 billion liquefied natural gas project near Palma, Mozambique.
In March 2021, militants linked to the Islamic State attacked the port town of Palma in Mozambique, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals and causing thousands to flee into the surrounding forest. This attack in Cabo Delgado province extended over several days, during which the insurgents targeted residents in both the town and the forest, with some victims subjected to beheadings.
While Mozambique’s government reported approximately 30 casualties, an independent journalist, Alex Perry, who conducted a comprehensive investigation into the incident, documented 1,402 individuals as either deceased or missing, including 55 contractors affiliated with TotalEnergies.
The plaintiffs in the case claim that TotalEnergies, previously known as Total in 2021, failed to adequately assess the threats posed to individuals working on the expansive gas project, despite a known and significant jihadist threat. They contend that several villages had previously suffered attacks before the Palma incident.
TotalEnergies is also accused of neglecting to provide assistance to individuals in peril, allegedly refusing to supply fuel to a South African security company that was conducting evacuations via helicopter.
In response to inquiries from Le Monde newspaper, TotalEnergies stated that its Mozambican subsidiary had offered substantial aid to civilians affected by the attack. The company outlined its efforts to evacuate all staff working at the Afungi site, where the gas field is situated, utilizing a ferry for their safety.
In July 2021, Rwanda and neighboring Southern African countries deployed troops to assist Mozambique in regaining control of a significant portion of Cabo Delgado, where the attack occurred.
Despite ongoing sporadic and low-level jihadist attacks in parts of Cabo Delgado, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne has expressed intentions to potentially restart the Palma project.
This lawsuit marks the second criminal complaint against the French energy giant within a week. In the prior week, four environmental organizations initiated legal action against TotalEnergies, accusing the company of contributing to climate change through a contentious oil project in Tanzania and Uganda.
