Serious violations of the human rights of people in northern Mozambique by the Mozambican military

Question écrite de M. Francisco ASSIS - Commission européenne


Subject: Serious violations of the human rights of people in northern Mozambique by the Mozambican military

Since 2021, the Islamic militia Al-Shabab, an affiliate of Daesh, has been responsible for violations of the human rights of the Mozambican people in Cabo Delgado province, which has led to the exodus of tens of thousands of civilians. While all this has been going on, reports have also emerged of human rights abuses committed by the military forces tasked with stopping Al-Shabab – forces made up of Mozambican and Rwandan troops.

Recently, reports have come to light of heinous crimes committed in Afungi by Mozambican soldiers working for the French company TotalEnergies, who had been hired to protect an investment in natural gas extraction from the Al-Shabab militia. These crimes are reported to include the arbitrary executions of hundreds of people, crimes of torture, rape and the inhumane treatment of prisoners. A further issue is the possible cover-up of these crimes by senior TotalEnergies officials.

In view of the above:

1. Will the Commission call on the Mozambican Government to hold to account and punish those responsible?

2. What does the Vice-President / High Representative make of allegations implicating TotalEnergies, a multinational based in a Member State?

3. How will the Commission enforce Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence, which obliges companies to reduce their adverse impact on human rights?

Submitted: 27.9.2024

Réponse - Commission européenne

Diffusée le 29 octobre 2024

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission (30 October 2024)

The Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President have taken note of the article published by Politico on 26 September 2024 on the alleged actions of the Mozambican army against civilians in Cabo Delgado in summer 2021 (1).

The EU continues to stress the importance of good conduct and behaviour of the Mozambican armed forces towards local populations.

In this context, trainings on human rights and international humanitarian law as well as women and children’s rights are part of the support to the Quick Reaction Forces of the Mozambican army provided by the EU military training mission in Mozambique and EU military assistance mission since their inception in November 2021 and September 2024 respectively.

The EU, through its delegation on the ground, has engaged with the Government of Mozambique to provide information on these actions and has made it clear to the Mozambican authorities that it expects elements of clarification in order to shed light on the events described in the article.

In a press statement released on 11 October 2024 (2), the Ministry of Defense ‘regrets and refutes categorically the allegations mentioned in the article’.

It stands ready ‘to accept a transparent and impartial investigation into the allegations in order to establish the truth’.

Based on Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (3) on corporate sustainability due diligence which will start applying in 2027, companies in scope will be required to identify and address adverse human rights and environmental impacts of their activities inside and outside Europe.

Designated Member States’ authorities will enforce these rules and ensure that any victims receive compensation as foreseen by the directive. As such, TotalEnergies will have to comply with the directive should they decide to resume their operations in Cabo Delgado.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.politico.eu/article/totalenergies-mozambique-patrick-pouyanne-atrocites-afungi-palma-cabo-delgado-al-shabab-isis/

2 ∙ ⸱ https://mdn.gov.mz/index.php/noticias/2024-10-15-09-10-28

3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202401760





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