The TotalEnergies Mozambique gas project controversy exposes critical challenges at the intersection of energy development, human rights, and security in conflict-affected regions. In 2025, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) filed a criminal complaint accusing TotalEnergies of complicity in war crimes, including torture and enforced disappearances, related to the actions of Mozambican security forces protecting the company’s gas site in Cabo Delgado. These allegations reveal deeper issues of corporate accountability and the protection of human rights amid geopolitical and economic interests.

Human Rights Violations at the Mozambique LNG Site

Between July and September 2021, following insurgent attacks by the armed group Al-Shabab on Palma town, Mozambican soldiers tasked with protecting TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project reportedly detained dozens of civilians who were fleeing violence. These detainees were confined in shipping containers at the gas site facility entrance, where they endured inhumane conditions, torture, and in many cases, death or enforced disappearance. Reports estimate that 180 to 250 men were detained in these containers, with only 26 survivors.​

These serious violations have sparked demands for independent investigations. Local chiefs of Palma and 15 surrounding villages, alongside 66 human rights and environmental organizations, formally requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to lead an impartial inquiry. Their request emphasized that national inquiries lacked independence and failed to protect victims, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and justice.​

Corporate Complicity and Legal Accountability

Evidence revealed by ECCHR indicates that TotalEnergies was aware, through internal documents and reports from its security contractors, of the Mozambican armed forces’ human rights abuses near its facilities since May 2020. Despite this knowledge, the company continued to financially support and provide logistical assistance to the Joint Task Force, the military unit guarding the project. This assistance included accommodation, food, equipment, and bonuses for soldiers, contingent on the absence of violations.​

The complaint argues that by continuing to support a force accused of systematic abuses, TotalEnergies may be complicit in war crimes. Clara Gonzales from ECCHR explained, 

"TotalEnergies knew that the Mozambican armed forces had been accused of systematic human rights violations, yet continued to support them with the only objective to secure its own facility. Companies and their executives are not neutral actors when they operate in conflict zones: if they enable or fuel crimes, they might be complicit and should be held accountable." 

This highlights a crucial principle: corporate entities cannot disclaim responsibility for human rights abuses perpetrated by forces they assist or benefit from.​

The Impact on Local Communities and Calls for Justice

The use of force around the LNG project has caused repeated and severe trauma to local communities. Victims and their families have suffered from the violence and lack of accountability. The ongoing impunity has exacerbated mistrust and resentment towards the company and the government. This situation has been described as a clear example where commercial interests overshadow human rights protections, risking lives and dignity in pursuit of profit.​

This conflict has drawn attention from global civil society organizations, which call on financiers and governments backing the Mozambique LNG project to reassess their support given the serious ethical claims. The UK government’s Export Finance agency, for instance, is under pressure to reconsider its financial support following revelations of the alleged abuses committed by forces linked to the project’s security.​

Broader Implications for Energy Sector Security and Human Rights

The Mozambique case exposes fundamental risks inherent in energy sector operations within fragile and conflict zones:

• Security arrangements that rely on local armed forces without robust human rights protections risk complicity in abuses. Independent due diligence and monitoring are essential to prevent violations.

• Human rights accountability must extend to corporate actors who potentially finance or enable abusive security practices. Voluntary principles are insufficient without enforcement.

• International financial institutions and governments have a pivotal role in enforcing ethical investment standards and withdrawing support when human rights breaches occur.

• A victim-centered approach to justice, including independent inquiries, reparations, and lasting solutions addressing root causes of conflict, must accompany energy projects in such contexts.

As Daniel Ribeiro from Justiça Ambiental remarked, 

"The local communities have experienced repeated violations of their human rights, yet to date have received no justice. This case is an important step toward justice, where the business interests of a company like TotalEnergies do not override the rights and lives of local people."

The TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG project stands as a cautionary tale on the vital importance of respecting human rights in energy sector developments, especially in conflict zones. The allegations of war crimes have triggered global scrutiny, legal challenges, and calls for accountability not only from the company but also from states and global investors backing the project. The lesson is clear: energy companies must integrate rigorous human rights safeguards into their security practices, ensuring that economic development never comes at the cost of local populations’ safety and dignity