Human rights violations by Mozambican security forces in the context of the Mozambique LNG project
- The Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) have a troubled track record of human rights violations in the northern area of Cabo Delgado province
- Violations varied over time, peaking after the Palma attack in March 2021, then declining following the deployment of Rwandan troops
- While confirming the specific details of the events described by Politico September 2024 article is beyond the scope of this report, the research conducted for this report corroborates that a large number of civilians were detained and abused by FDS elements in front of the LNG project’s site
- The analysis suggests that Rwandan troop presence and accountability for past abuses lower the risk of further violations in the region
This report was based on primary data collection through numerous on-site interviews. In our experience, people who have experienced severe human rights abuses are unlikely to speak openly to unknown foreign researchers. We therefore included two independent local researchers, with a well-established network of informants on the ground, within the research team. They conducted extensive on-site interviews, which the team collectively analysed and reported on.
The aim of this report is to assess the track record of human rights violations by Mozambican security forces in the context of the protection of the Mozambique LNG project in Afungi, Cabo Delgado; to assess the overall credibility of the description of events provided by Politico’s September 2024 article “All must be beheaded”, which reported serious human rights violations against civilians by Mozambican forces in the wake of the 2021 Palma attack; and to reflect on the plausibility of future human rights incidents. The report is based on in-person interviews and conversations with over 80 local stakeholders in the Palma and Mocímboa da Praia districts, direct observations at different points in time between 2020 and March 2025, and a review of relevant secondary sources. The report covers developments up to April 2025.
The report concludes that the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) have a troubled record of human rights violations in the region surrounding the LNG project’s site in Afungi. The frequency and the intensity of human rights violations have varied significantly over time, and three main phases can be distinguished.