The accusations are detailed in a complaint filed with France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor. This comes shortly after the French oil company announced plans to resume operations in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.

The company had suspended activities due to insecurity in the region, but conditions have improved largely because of the Rwandan military deployment, which has been helping eliminate the insurgent group that had threatened TotalEnergies’ project.

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The company’s CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, said in March 2025 that an internal investigation found no evidence of the alleged abuses.

He added that Total had also requested an investigation by Mozambique’s Human Rights Commission, in addition to the one already opened by the country’s public prosecutor.

The complaint filed with France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor, PNAT an office that investigates both domestic and international crimes has been acknowledged and is currently under review.

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Meanwhile, TotalEnergies is still under investigation by French prosecutors over separate allegations that it failed to assist people in danger during a 2021 extremist attack, and over accusations of evacuating only its own staff. The company denies both claims.

The energy giant is preparing to gradually restart its Mozambique LNG project, allowing workers to access gas exploration sites only by air or sea due to ongoing security concerns.