TotalEnergies Faces Unprecedented War Crimes Case in French Court Over Mozambique Security Operations

2 hours ago7 min read

French energy conglomerate TotalEnergies confronts a landmark legal challenge as NGOs bring war crimes complicity allegations before Paris judges, centering on security operations near its $20 billion Mozambique LNG project. The case represents one of the first major tests of France's 2017 duty of vigilance law, which requires multinational corporations to prevent human rights violations throughout their global operations.Legal documents filed by Sherpa and Friends of the Earth France allege TotalEnergies failed to conduct proper human rights due diligence on security forces protecting its Cabo Delgado province operations, where government troops and private contractors stand accused of dozens of extrajudicial killings. The northern Mozambican region has been embroiled in an Islamist insurgency that has created complex security challenges for the massive gas project, crucial to both Mozambique's economic development and European energy security.TotalEnergies maintains it bears no responsibility for actions by Mozambican security forces, characterizing itself as merely a 'tenant' in the arrangement. However, plaintiffs argue the company benefited from security operations that employed excessive force against civilians, effectively outsourcing violence while reaping operational advantages.The legal outcome could establish new parameters for corporate liability, potentially affecting how international energy companies manage security in conflict zones worldwide. Beyond immediate financial implications, a finding against TotalEnergies could jeopardize project financing and insurance while setting a precedent for holding parent companies accountable for human rights violations in their global supply chains.The case arrives as Western nations grapple with balancing energy security needs against human rights commitments, particularly in volatile regions rich in natural resources. Legal experts suggest the proceeding could redefine corporate responsibility boundaries, forcing multinational corporations to reassess their operational relationships with state security forces in high-risk territories.

#featured

#TotalEnergies

#Mozambique

#massacre

#war crimes

#security forces

#human rights

#corporate accountability

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