Mozambique: NGO criticises ‘privatisation of sovereignty’ in government accord

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Mozambique: NGO criticises ‘privatisation of sovereignty’ in government accord

8:50 CAT | 28 Aug 2020

Photo: Total via CDD Moçambque

The Center for Democracy and Development, a Mozambican non-governmental organization (NGO), said on Thursday that the security agreement signed between the government and Total oil company is “problematic” and constitutes a “privatization of sovereignty” of the country.

The Mozambican Government and Total announced on Monday that they had signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint force for the security of the natural gas project of the French multinational consortium in Cabo Delgado, an agreement that recommends the consortium to provide logistic support to the government forces.

The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) understands that when the government allows the deployment of military personnel for the protection of “private interests in exchange for payments” it is “privatising” the services of the defence and security forces and “violating” the defence and security policy.

“Even if the defence and security policy talks about the need for protection of vital interests, this should not happen in a commercial logic where the Mozambique LNG project remunerates the defence forces as if they were a private company”, said the NGO.

According to the CDD, the model adopted may create “problems” to the defence forces, since those who will provide services to the multinationals will have, besides normal salaries paid by the State, project subsidies, being in better conditions than those who “fight terrorism” in other places of the same province.

“This may demoralise the personnel deployed to protect the civilian population and other national interests without the right to subsidies,” the DRC noted, suggesting that the government use part of the revenue collected from natural gas exploitation to improve security throughout Cabo Delgado province.

In a note in reaction to the position of the DDC sent today to Lusa, Total explained that the agreement with the Government aims to “serve the best interest of all parties” and demonstrates the commitment of the company to “achieve its development goals in a safe manner”, with social and economic benefits for the communities.

“We believe that the improved memorandum of understanding demonstrates our commitment to partnership with the Government and stakeholders for the protection of our workers, operations area and communities,” the multinational noted.

Total leads the consortium that will explore Area 1 of the Rovuma basin in northern Mozambique in 2024, in what is the first onshore natural gas exploration venture in Rovuma.

Lusa also tried, without success, to obtain comments from the Mozambican government.

Cabo Delgado province has been the target of attacks by armed groups since October 2017, incursions that have already caused the death of at least 1,059 people in almost three years, and the destruction of various infrastructures.

Some of the armed actions in Cabo Delgado have been claimed by the ‘jihadist’ organisation Islamic State.

According to the United Nations, the armed violence has led to the flight of 250,000 people from districts affected by insecurity, further north in the province.

Source: Lusa