French prosecutors have opened an investigation into TotalEnergies over potential manslaughter and a failure to assist people in danger during a jihadist attack in Mozambique, the energy firm said, reiterating that it denied any wrongdoing.
Islamist insurgents attacked the port city of Palma in March 2021, killing many civilians in areas close to Mozambican gas infrastructure projects, owned in part by TotalEnergies.
Survivors and relatives of victims filed a complaint in France in late 2023, saying the company had failed to ensure the safety of subcontractors. That led prosecutors to launch a preliminary inquiry.
"TotalEnergies has been informed of the opening of a judicial investigation into the Mozambique terrorist attacks of March 2021," the company said on Saturday in an emailed statement.
"The Company categorically rejects these accusations."
Repeating comments it had made at the time of the complaint, TotalEnergies said teams from the Mozambique LNG project provided emergency assistance and evacuated more than 2,500 people.
The judicial investigation will determine whether or not there are grounds to send TotalEnergies to court.
French media earlier reported the probe was being overseen by prosecutors at Nanterre just outside Paris. The Nanterre prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The board of the U.S. Export-Import Bank has approved a nearly $5 billion loan for Mozambique LNG, clearing a key hurdle to restarting the project that was halted by the Islamist attacks.
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Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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