Context and Emerging Tensions
On October 2, 2025, Mozambican and international civil society organizations issued joint statements warning of escalating human-rights, environmental, and security risks tied to the accelerated LNG expansion in Cabo Delgado. The warnings follow the government’s approval of Eni’s Coral North floating LNG project and renewed momentum around TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG onshore operations. While these initiatives are being promoted as engines of national growth, community leaders and advocacy groups contend that the security situation remains fragile, with reports of localized insurgent activity, displacement, and uneven humanitarian access in parts of the province.
Civil Society Concerns and Governance Challenges
Organizations such as the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Justiça Ambiental (Friends of the Earth Mozambique) argue that the LNG build-out risks exacerbating inequalities and community marginalization unless stronger safeguards are enforced. They highlight issues including opaque contract negotiations, involuntary resettlements, and environmental degradation in sensitive coastal ecosystems. Human-rights groups have urged both the Mozambican government and international partners to adopt independent monitoring mechanisms, ensure free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from affected communities, and make all security agreements with private contractors and foreign troops publicly transparent. The call reflects deepening frustration with what civil society views as a “development without accountability” model.
Implications for Social Stability and Investor Reputation
The renewed pressure underscores the License to Operate (LTO) fragility facing Mozambique’s LNG sector. Analysts warn that proceeding with large-scale energy investments in a context of incomplete stabilization could trigger reputational risks for international investors and lenders, especially under evolving ESG and human-rights due diligence frameworks. While the government insists that LNG expansion is vital for national reconstruction, the absence of transparent community engagement and credible grievance mechanisms threatens to erode public trust and intensify local resentment. The unfolding debate over Cabo Delgado’s LNG future thus illustrates a broader regional challenge: how to reconcile energy security, economic recovery, and human rights in one of Africa’s most volatile development corridors.