In response to the accusations of "involuntary manslaughter" and "failure to assist a person in danger" during the terrorist assault on the town of Palma, the French multinational says that the conflict is not linked to the natural gas projects.

The French petrochemical company denies the accusations against it and says it has mobilized resources to evacuate more than 2,500 people, including company workers, subcontractors, contractors and civilians, writes the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), citing a company statement.

"The conflict in Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique, predates the development of gas projects in the region and is linked to many factors unrelated to Mozambique LNG," reads the company's document.

TotalEnergies says that any consequences of the conflict, including the assault on Palma in March 2021, should not be seen as the responsibility of the LNG project, as it encountered the conflict.

In addition, the company says in the note quoted by CDD that it mobilized exceptional resources, the highlight being the provision of the Afungi airstrip, which was used by the government and international organizations to evacuate people by air.

As for the accusation that it refused to supply fuel to DAG, the press release clarifies that the South African military company was contracted in 2020 by the Government of Mozambique to carry out offensive military security missions against terrorist groups in northern Mozambique, and during that time several NGOs denounced serious crimes against the local population, allegedly perpetrated by DAG. Thus, "for these reasons Mozambique LNG decided that it would not support the offensive military actions carried out by the DAG, but provided assistance in the rescue operations carried out under the authority of the government's security forces."  (CDD)