"TotalEnergies CEO defends company against East Africa abuse allegations"

…TotalEnergies … chief executive Patrick Pouyanne defended the company's work on oil projects in East Africa on Friday, after an independent U.N. human rights expert said the French firm should urgently address fresh allegations of abuses.

In a statement… released late on Thursday, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders Michel Forst said the company must take immediate action to protect activists linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and connected oilfields.

That followed a decision by German asset manager Union Investment to drop TotalEnergies' bonds and shares from its sustainable investment funds over the issue.

Pouyanne addressed criticism of the East African projects related to their alleged environmental and human rights impacts during the company's annual shareholders meeting.

"We develop these projects with the values and principles that are ours, we are convinced of the good they do for the countries and the local populations," he said…

Union Investment said it took its decision after reviewing a fresh report from non-profit Just Finance International citing alleged abuses at the Kingfisher oil site in Uganda, part of the pipeline project…

Earlier, the company released a statement saying it "does not tolerate any threats or violence against those who peacefully defend and promote human rights" and reminds those it works with of its position on the subject…