After an article published in the news website “Politico” on 26 September 2024, regarding alleged human rights violations that would have been carried out by Mozambican soldiers at or near the Afungi site between July and November 2021, Mozambican Attorney General’s Office (PGR) has started an investigation about the allegations of human rights violations in Cabo Delgado, allegedly committed by the Joint Task Force (Mozambican Defense and Security Forces), including accusations of complicity by TotalEnergies within the Mozambique LNG project.
Leading to its notification to provide clarifications is the allegation that the French was aware of violent actions against local communities, leading to its notification to provide clarifications.
These allegations have been reported in international media and reports, including the French newspaper “Le Monde”, and investigation news media such as “Político” and “Source Material”
In response to those accusations, TotalEnergies hired an independent team to investigate the claims and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and respect for human rights and have been communicating several of its conclusions to investors and stakeholders of the Mozambique LNG.
Based on the investigations into the information made public, Mozambique LNG has not identified any information nor evidence that would corroborate the allegations of severe abuses and torture made in the “Politico” article, despite having maintained several channels of communication with the local communities.
Maxime Rabilloud heard by Mozambican Attorney General
In the sequence of this events, company’s director in Mozambique, Maxime Rabilloud, has already been heard by the Mozambican Attorney General’s Office in a meeting to promote collaboration between the parties and ensure impartiality in the investigation.
The company has stopped subsidizing the FDS in the sequence of the report presented, in 2023, by Jean Cristophe-Ruphin, and signed a new MoU with the government to continue to implement training programs for the FDS and ensure that the operations continue following international standards.
The Ministry of National Defense published a statement “categorically” refuting the allegations mentioned in the aforementioned article. “The accusations that the Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (FADM) were purportedly involved in acts of torture, violence and other atrocities against civilians are not supported by any factual elements demonstrating this to be the case. Reaffirming the FADM’s unwavering commitment to respect for human rights, the Ministry of National Defense expressed “its total openness and willingness to accept a transparent and impartial investigation into the allegations, with a view to seeking material truth, inviting anyone wishing to do so, to collaborate, in good faith, in this matter”.
TotalEnergies declared force majeure on the Mozambique LNG project in April 2021 and withdrew all personnel from the site since.
