Survivors and relatives of victims from the 2021 jihadist attack in northern Mozambique have filed a lawsuit against France’s TotalEnergies, alleging that the company failed to protect its contractors at a multi-billion-dollar gas field, according to their lawyers.
In March 2021, militants linked to the Islamic State launched a deadly attack on Palma, Mozambique, resulting in the deaths of many and the displacement of thousands. The attack lasted for days, with militants targeting both the town and the surrounding forest, and some victims were brutally beheaded.
The plaintiffs, including three survivors and four relatives of victims from the attack, accuse TotalEnergies, formerly known as Total, of neglecting to ensure the safety of its local suppliers for the $20 billion liquefied natural gas project near Palma.
Despite prior attacks on nearby villages and a significant jihadist threat in the region, the plaintiffs argue that TotalEnergies did not adequately assess the danger to its project workers.
Furthermore, TotalEnergies is accused of failing to provide assistance to individuals in danger, allegedly refusing to supply fuel to a South African security company evacuating people from a lodge by helicopter.
TotalEnergies responded by stating that its Mozambican subsidiary had provided significant assistance to civilians during the attack. They claimed that they had plans to evacuate all staff working at the Afungi site where the gas field is located and had used a ferry to transport people to safety when the jihadists attacked.
In July 2021, troops from Rwanda and southern African countries aided Mozambique in retaking control of much of Cabo Delgado, where the attack occurred.
Despite ongoing low-level jihadist attacks in parts of Cabo Delgado, TotalEnergies’ CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, expressed the company’s intention to relaunch the Palma project.
This lawsuit marks the second legal complaint against the French energy company in recent days. Environmental groups initiated legal action against TotalEnergies for its involvement in a controversial oil project in Tanzania and Uganda, accusing the company of contributing to climate change.
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