The French public prosecutor has opened a preliminary investigation targeting TotalEnergies TTEF.PA after a complaint filed by survivors and families of victims of a jihadist attack perpetrated in 2021 in Mozambique, we learned on Saturday from a lawyer for complainants, Me Henri Thulliez, confirming information from the AFP.
The deadly attack carried out in March 2021 by a group linked to the Islamic State organization in the province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, led to the suspension of work on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in which TotalEnergies holds a stake.
The plaintiffs consider that the French group showed “negligence in terms of risk assessment” before this attack and filed a complaint in particular for “involuntary manslaughter”.
Following this complaint, the prosecution opened a preliminary investigation at the end of last year, a source close to the matter told Reuters.
TotalEnergies has presented elements as part of this procedure and it is now up to the prosecution to decide whether or not it is appropriate to launch proceedings.
The prosecution and TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters.
(Sybille de La Hamaide; French version Nicolas Delame and Tangi Salaün)