The Dutch government has launched an independent inquiry into human rights abuses by Mozambique’s security forces, following reports of a massacre by a military unit at a TotalEnergies gas plant in 2021. Finance Minister Eelco Heinen confirmed the investigation in a letter to parliament, emphasizing a need for external analysis of the violations.
The Dutch government has initiated an independent inquiry to investigate human rights abuses perpetrated by Mozambique’s security forces. The inquiry is particularly focused on incidents involving a Mozambican military unit that was stationed at the gatehouse of a gas plant owned by TotalEnergies. Reports from POLITICO revealed that this unit was implicated in a series of violent acts against civilians, including kidnapping, rape, and murder during the summer of 2021.
Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen subsequently addressed the matter in a letter to the Dutch parliament on March 4, indicating that he had requested an external party to conduct a thorough analysis of the alleged human rights violations linked to the Mozambique liquefied natural gas project. The abuses have raised significant concerns about the conduct of security forces in the region as they protect foreign investments.
The announcement of the inquiry into Mozambique’s security forces by the Dutch government underscores the serious nature of the reported human rights abuses at the gas plant site. With the involvement of an independent external party, the inquiry aims to provide clarity and accountability regarding the violent actions that took place in 2021, affecting numerous civilians in the region.
Original Source: www.politico.eu
