Paris: A prominent human rights organisation has filed a criminal complaint in France accusing TotalEnergies of being complicit in war crimes and other serious abuses committed in northern Mozambique. The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights submitted the complaint to the French anti terrorism prosecutor, saying the company may have supported security forces responsible for torture and enforced disappearances in 2021.

The allegations focus on a period between July and September 2021, when TotalEnergies had halted work at its liquefied natural gas site in the Afungi peninsula after a surge in militant attacks. According to the rights group, Mozambican security forces who took control of the area committed abuses against civilians, and the company is accused of indirectly enabling these forces through financial and logistical support.

TotalEnergies has rejected the accusations, stating that its employees were not present at the time and that it had no knowledge of torture or killings until reports appeared in the media. The company says it follows strict human rights standards and denies any involvement in wrongdoing.

Mozambican authorities have begun their own investigation into the conduct of the forces guarding the project site. Meanwhile, France is already examining a separate complaint related to the company’s role during the 2021 attack on the nearby town of Palma, where civilians were trapped during militant violence.

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, TotalEnergies is moving forward with plans to restart the multibillion dollar LNG project, which has been stalled for years due to insecurity. The company aims to resume operations under tighter security controls, with a target to fully restart the project by 2029.

The legal challenges raise broader questions about the responsibilities of global companies operating in conflict affected regions, and whether they can be held accountable for abuses committed by state forces protecting their sites.