French energy giant totalenergies faces criminal charges over alleged civilian massacres in mozambique

French oil and gas corporation TotalEnergies is facing serious criminal allegations in its home country related to its massive natural gas project in Mozambique. The Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) has filed a complaint with France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor, accusing the energy giant of complicity in human rights violations that resulted in dozens of civilian deaths.

The legal action centers on TotalEnergies’ relationship with Mozambique’s elite Joint Task Force (JTF), a military unit that the company allegedly continued funding for facility security despite being aware of serious human rights abuses. According to the complaint, the JTF was responsible for torturing and executing civilians in 2021 near the town of Palma, close to TotalEnergies’ onshore liquefied natural gas facilities.

The alleged atrocities occurred after jihadist militia al-Shabaab captured Palma in March 2021, forcing tens of thousands to flee. Following the military’s recapture of the town, JTF soldiers reportedly rounded up civilians from nearby villages, accused them of terrorist ties, and imprisoned them in shipping containers for months. A door-to-door survey documented by Politico revealed that at least 97 detainees were executed or died in custody.

The timing of this legal challenge is particularly significant as TotalEnergies prepares to resume operations on its multibillion-dollar offshore gas project, which had been suspended due to regional security concerns. France’s prosecutor now has the authority to pursue criminal charges against both the company and individual executives, potentially setting a precedent for corporate accountability in conflict zones.