Not one of the financial backers of the highly controversial Mozambique LNG project has agreed to publicly call for an independent international investigation into an alleged massacre of civilians, reportedly committed near TotalEnergies’ premises in mid-2021 by Mozambican public security forces.
Today a coalition of 126 Mozambican and international civil society organisations (1) released a letter, sent last December to the 31 financial institutions (2) involved in the Mozambique LNG project. The letter includes critical new information on the risks associated with the project and outlines key demands.
The coalition specifically asks for financial institutions to support the call (3) for an urgent independent international investigation into an alleged massacre of civilians, reportedly committed near TotalEnergies’ Afungi premises between July and September 2021 by public security forces claiming to be in charge of protecting the gas site. The coalition emphasises the need for the investigation to be conducted by an international or regional intergovernmental human rights mechanism – such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The coalition further urges financiers to withdraw their commitments of support for the project and withhold support if the force majeure is lifted – a legal step required for the project to resume – until all facts and responsibilities are investigated, and the results of such an investigation made public.
By the deadline of 17th January, only 14 out of 31 financial institutions had responded – FirstRand, UKEF, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, JBIC, Standard Chartered, JOGMEC, Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust, ABSA, Standard Bank and Atradius DSB. In their answers, most institutions noted receipt, and some such as UKEF, Standard Chartered and FirstRand, noted the concerns raised in the letter, but none so far indicated support for an independent international investigation. None of the 31 financial institutions has publicly spoken out about the alleged massacre and other reported human rights violations in connection with the Mozambique LNG project.
LNG operations taking place in a context of civil unrest, oppression and conflict
Since mid-October 2024, Mozambique has experienced “an unprecedented level of public protests on a daily basis” nation-wide, ignited by allegations of electoral fraud and the brutal assassinations of two senior opposition figures. (4) The response of state authorities is “marked by serious human rights violations, including murder, torture and enforced disappearances”. (5) By 15 January 2025, the total number of deaths was 303, with 619 people shot and 4,228 people detained since October 21st. Civil society organisations have appealed to the United Nations for intervention.
In addition to the civil unrest, the ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado remains active, and regional security remained precarious throughout 2024. (6) The drivers of the insurgency as well as those of the electoral demonstrations are the same, most critically the socio-economic welfare of the people in the region and Mozambique as a whole. As multiple expert analyses indicate, the key to resolving the insurgency is to address these drivers.
Anabela Lemos, with Justiça Ambiental! / Friends of the Earth Mozambique, warns: “This project carries an extensive spectrum of risks – specifically around human rights violations. Gas development has been shown to be a catalyst for making increased funds and resources available to a government that has been inflicting violence on citizens. Neither the Mozambican government nor TotalEnergies can be entrusted to solely conduct credible and objective investigations into alleged violations that they may have links to. Financiers – out of morality and justice – must re-examine not only their support to this project but also their commitment to human rights.” (Lemos is director of Justiça Ambiental! and a 2024 recipient of the Right Livelihoods award.)
Following the September 2024 Politico article, which reported on the alleged massacre of civilians, Mozambique’s Ministry of National Defence refuted the allegations made in the article. An internal analysis by Mozambique LNG concluded that no corroborating information was identified. In late December, the Mozambique Attorney General’s office was reported to have launched an investigation into the allegations, and to have held a hearing with Mozambique LNG director Maxime Rabilloud.
Dutch parliamentarians have raised concerns and underlined the importance of an independent investigation into the alleged massacre. However, a motion that was submitted on this last December is currently on hold, as the Dutch Parliament is awaiting a formal response (letter) by the Dutch Minister of Finance.
Kate DeAngelis, with Friends of the Earth U.S., says: “Governments through their export credit agencies and development finance institutions are providing key finance for the LNG development in northern Mozambique. The U.S. Export-Import Bank under the first Trump Administration approved almost $5 billion for Mozambique LNG. While Biden has not bowed to pressure from TotalEnergies‘ CEO Patrick Pouyanné and has not released the funds requested for the relaunch of Mozambique LNG during his mandate, it is likely that the second Trump Administration will ram through this finance despite the atrocities that have been committed. In this context, the other States involved in the project, including the Netherlands and the UK, have an even greater responsibility to stand up against Trump’s alliance with the fossil fuel industry.”
Resettlement violations remain unresolved
The letter to financial institutions provides detail on resettlement violations affecting hundreds of families that remain unresolved. Over 1,300 complaints have been received by local civil society organisation Justiça Ambiental. None of the financial institutions commented on these circumstances either.
At a recent meeting that was held to attempt to come to a resolution of some of the resettlement issues, a number of community members spoke out against a proposal that would deny them any opportunities to conduct their livelihoods – including growing food. Subsequently, ten community members were summoned to hearings with the police. Justiça Ambiental!, which provides support to communities affected by mega-projects, has noted this tactic being used in a number of other communities in the country to silence critical voices. Anabela Lemos says: “Intimidation has a far-reaching impact on the sense of safety of individuals when they participate in meetings and negotiations relating to their rights, and is especially menacing in the context of ongoing regional conflict.”
Financiers of Mozambique LNG urged to ensure justice for the people affected by the project and the alleged massacre
TotalEnergies has been approaching the financial supporters of this project in order to secure their renewed support in view of resuming operations. The coalition that sent the letter argues that financial support cannot and should not be renewed without a thorough reassessment of the project, including the recent allegations of links to severe human rights violations.
Lorette Philippot, with Friends of the Earth France, says: “Public and private financial institutions are opting for a strategy of complicit silence. Since they decided to support Mozambique LNG in mid-2020, long-identified risks turned into concrete impacts, repeated human tragedies occurred and were documented, and Total has consistently proved itself untrustworthy. These banks, and in particular Société Générale and Crédit Agricole in France, must realise that this silence will not protect them: they bear the responsibility of demanding that light be shed on these unbearable violences, to ensure justice and truth for the victims and the safety of survivors, families and witnesses.”
Notes
(1) The letter was initially sent in December 2024 by the following organisations: Justiça Ambiental! / Friends of the Earth Mozambique; Les Amis de la Terre France / Friends of the Earth France; Reclaim Finance; BankTrack; Urgewald; Friends of the Earth Japan; ReCommon; Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands; Friends of the Earth Europe; Friends of the Earth United States; Solutions for Our Climate.
See the full list of the current signatories at the end of the letter.
(2) 31 financial institutions took part in the 14.9 billion dollars project financing in July 2020. The letter was sent to these financial institutions:
Public financial institutions: Export Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM); Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); UK Export Finance (UKEF); Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Thai Exim); Servizi Assicurativi del Commercio Estero (SACE); Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI); Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC); Atradius Dutch State Business (ADSB); Cassa Depositi e Prestiti; African Development Bank (AfDB); African Export Import Bank; Development Bank of Southern Africa; Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa; Korea Development Bank; Export Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM); US International Development Finance Corp (DFC).
Private financial institutions: Société Générale; Crédit Agricole; Mizuho Bank; JP Morgan; Standard Chartered Bank; MUFG Bank; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank; SBI Shinsei Bank; Nippon Life Insurance; ABSA Bank; Nedbank; Rand Merchant Bank; Standard Bank; ICBC.
(3) The call reads:
Urgent appeal for immediate independent international investigation
International and Mozambican civil society organisations are urgently appealing for an immediate independent international investigation into the series of atrocities reportedly committed near the TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG Afungi premises by public security forces reportedly acting in the service of the company. We ask that this independent investigation is conducted by an international or regional intergovernmental human rights mechanism – such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights – with the intention of ensuring justice and truth for the victims and the safety of survivors, families and witnesses. Working with an internationally or regionally officially recognised human rights body with the required expertise and mandate, is key for the protection of the victims and witnesses.
(4) More information about the electoral protests: Club of Mozambique. 13 January 2025. CIP Mozambique Elections: Appeal to UN for intervention of stop killing of protestors; The Daily Maverick. 24 October 2024. Assassinations, fraud and intimidation mark Mozambique’s 2024 elections; Institute for Security Studies. 22 October 2024. Latest elections widen Mozambique’s democratic deficit; and Centro de Integridade Pública (CIP). 19 October 2924. Nota de repúdio do Centro de Integridade Pública (CIP) ao bárbaro assassinato do advogado Elvino Dias na cidade de Maputo.
(5) More information about the Mozambican government response to the electoral protests: African Arguments. 7 November 2024. Mozambique: A revolution born in the search for electoral justice; Human Rights Watch. 19 October 2024. Mozambique: Post-Election Protests Violently Repressed; and Club of Mozambique. 13 January 2025. CIP Mozambique Elections: Appeal to UN for intervention of stop killing of protestors.
(6) For updates about political violence and the insurgency in Mozambique see: Cabo Ligado conflict observatory, published by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED); and Displacement tracking matrix on Mozambique by the UN International Organization for Migration.
