British Contractor Murdered in Mozambique Terror Attack After Hotel Manager Fled With Dogs, Inquest Hears

A hero British contractor was killed by ISIS-linked terrorists in Mozambique after a hotel manager allegedly abandoned guests, including the contractor, to flee in a helicopter with two dogs, an inquest has been told. Philip Mawer, 58, was trapped at the Amarula Hotel in Palma when the coastal town came under attack from al-Shabaab in March 2021. He was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while attempting to flee the hotel in a road convoy the day after the siege began.

Mawer, originally from Somerset, was working as a project manager for RA International, a company contracted to build accommodation for what was described as "the largest gas operation in Africa" run by TotalEnergies.

During the Winchester inquest, a fellow contractor accused the hotel manager of "abandoning" Mawer and other guests. The contractor described how the manager allegedly "locked the fridges and switched off the WIFI" before evacuating in a helicopter with two dogs.

The inquest also heard claims that a rescue attempt by the SAS was purportedly blocked by the French energy giant TotalEnergies, which was also accused of failing to provide sufficient fuel for evacuation helicopters. These actions, according to some accounts presented at the inquest, were "contrary to the interests of Mr Mawer and everyone there," and that more people could have been saved if adequate fuel had been supplied.

Nicholas Alexander, another contractor present at the hotel, stated that the decision to flee in a convoy was prompted by news that insurgents were approaching the hotel's south compound and by the manager's departure. "He locked the fridges, switched off the WiFi, took the dogs and went. He abandoned the rest of us," Alexander told the inquest.

Bill Mawer, Philip Mawer's brother, recounted pleading with his brother to leave on a helicopter, but Philip insisted that women and children should be evacuated first. He also expressed frustration that the family had not been able to question TotalEnergies about the lack of fuel and other issues related to the incident.

Francesca Wiley KC, representing Mawer's family, indicated that on March 28, 2021, the SAS was dispatched from Kenya to rescue Mawer, mistakenly believing he was still alive. He had died two days prior. Wiley KC stated that the SAS were "not assisted by Total [TotalEnergies]." She argued that more helicopters could have been utilized and a larger number of people saved if fuel had been available, and that TotalEnergies acted contrary to the interests of those present.

However, Coroner Jason Pegg ruled that Wiley KC had strayed from the appropriate line of questioning, and further details regarding the SAS rescue attempt were not pursued.

The inquest heard that the Dyck Advisory Group (DAG), which provided helicopters to the Mozambique government for rescue operations, had to resort to "stealing fuel" from TotalEnergies because the energy company allegedly refused to supply them. DAG CEO Max Dyck stated that more people could have been saved if they had access to more fuel. He described the situation as "incredibly chaotic" with continuous fighting. He claimed that TotalEnergies denied their requests for fuel, and that there were numerous obstacles in obtaining it. Dyck suggested that if fuel had been accessible, "a lot more people" could have been rescued.

Dyck also confirmed awareness of an Everett helicopter landing at the Amarula hotel to pick up the manager, staff, and pets, noting that his group had been tasked with clearing insurgents to facilitate this landing. Shortly after, the convoy, including Mawer, departed the hotel.

Wiley KC concluded that increased helicopter landings, facilitated by more fuel, could have exponentially increased the chances of saving Mr. Mawer.

Lawyer Adam Payter is representing TotalEnergies and its subsidiary at the inquest, which is ongoing.