French prosecutors said they are investigating oil giant TotalEnergies for possible manslaughter in connection with a 2021 jihadist attack in Mozambique.
The investigation follows a complaint filed by the victims' families and survivors of the attack, accusing the French energy company, which was developing a major liquefied gas project in the region, of failing to protect its subcontractors, prosecutors told AFP.
Survivors and families say TotalEnergies also failed to provide fuel so helicopters could evacuate civilians after Islamic State-linked militants killed dozens of people in the Mozambican port city of Palma on March 24, 2021. The entire attack in the province of Cabo Delgado lasted several days and claimed several hundred casualties. Some of the victims were beheaded, and thousands fled their homes.
A spokesperson for the company repeated an earlier statement saying it "strongly denies the allegations". He said its teams from Mozambique provided emergency assistance and made possible the evacuation of 2,500 people from the plant, including civilians, staff, contractors and subcontractors. /BGNES, AFP
