Communities and climate justice movements across the continent have mobilised under the Kick Total Out of Africa Week of Action, highlighting the extensive harm allegedly caused by TotalEnergies’ fossil fuel projects in Africa.
From grassroots assemblies to public demonstrations, activists have drawn attention to the company’s supposedly devastating record and amplified a growing call for accountability and a just energy transition.
Communities have raised urgent concerns, including:
- Forced displacement and militarisation linked to major fossil fuel projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
- Widespread environmental degradation through oil spills, gas flaring, and ecosystem destruction.
- Escalating health and livelihood crises in communities impacted by extractive operations.
- The urgent need for reparations and investment in community-owned renewable energy solutions.
TotalEnergies’ Ongoing Pattern of Exploitation
“TotalEnergies has become synonymous with extractive exploitation in Africa, pursuing oil and gas projects that enrich shareholders while deepening poverty, inequality, and ecological collapse. The company’s relentless expansion, despite the climate crisis, exemplifies corporate greed that disregards human rights and the environment,” submitted activist group 350.org.
In a landmark decision last week, the South African High Court rejected TotalEnergies’ application for offshore drilling rights, recognising the significant risks to marine biodiversity, climate, and coastal livelihoods. The ruling, according to 350.org, underscores both the legitimacy of community resistance and the unsustainability of fossil fuel expansion.
The People’s Tribunal: A Platform for Justice
On Friday, August 22, 2025, African communities and civil society organisations will convene the People’s Tribunal against TotalEnergies, a public forum designed to hear testimonies, present evidence, and build the case against the company in the court of public opinion.
While symbolic, the Tribunal is seen as a powerful act of resistance, giving voice to those most affected and demanding justice, reparations, and an accelerated transition towards clean, community-controlled energy.