TotalEnergies Faces Legal Investigation Over 2021 Mozambique Jihadist Attack

French prosecutors have opened a judicial inquiry into allegations of involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist victims following the deadly attack in Palma.

The judicial investigation focuses on TotalEnergies' alleged negligence during the March 2021 jihadist attack in Palma, Mozambique, which coincided with the company's gas project in the region.
Survivors and families of victims filed a complaint in late 2023, accusing the company of failing to ensure the safety of subcontractors and local populations during the attack.
The attack, which lasted several days, resulted in an undetermined number of casualties, with some reports estimating over 1,400 civilians dead or missing, including 55 subcontractors.
TotalEnergies has denied the allegations, citing its efforts to evacuate over 2,500 people from the area and declaring force majeure to halt its liquefied natural gas project after the attack.
Despite the controversy, the Mozambique LNG project recently secured $4.7 billion in U.S. export credit, with production now expected to begin in 2029 or 2030.