TotalEnergies Accused of War Crimes Complicity at Mozambique Gas Site

In a landmark legal move, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) has filed a formal complaint in France against TotalEnergies, accusing the French multinational energy giant of complicity in war crimes at its massive gas site in Mozambique’s conflict-ridden Cabo Delgado province.

At the heart of the case: evidence that civilians were tortured, detained, and killed by security forces linked to a joint task force (JTF) created to protect TotalEnergies’ $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The legal filing, submitted to France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor, signals growing pressure on multinational corporations operating in conflict zones, and raises new questions about France’s role in backing regimes accused of abuses, including Paul Kagame’s Rwanda, whose troops are also deployed in Cabo Delgado to protect TotalEnergies' assets.

“Beaten, Tortured or Killed”: What Happened at the Gas Site?

Between July and September 2021, Mozambican soldiers attached to the JTF reportedly locked up to 250 civilians in shipping containers.

They were accused of “supporting jihadists” but had no due process.

According to investigative outlet Politico, most were tortured, beaten, and killed. Only 26 people survived.

The ECCHR states that TotalEnergies knew about these abuses, citing internal documents going back to May 2020, but chose to continue funding and supporting the task force anyway, prioritizing protection of infrastructure over the protection of human life.

“Companies and their executives are not neutral in conflict zones,” said ECCHR’s Clara Gonzales. “If they enable or fuel crimes, they might be complicit, and they must be held accountable.”

France, Rwanda, and the Gas Fields of Cabo Delgado