French supermajor Total SE has suspended work at its Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) work site amid rising violence in the area.

Total said the security threat from violent insurgents had led it to declare force majeure on the $20 billion project. It did not say when work might resume.

“Considering the evolution of the security situation in the north of the Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique, Total confirms the withdrawal of all Mozambique LNG project personnel from the Afungi site,” Total said Monday.

The rise in violence from militants with ties to the Islamic State group has left more than 2,000 people dead and thousands of people displaced, according to Bloomberg. It marks another blow for Total, which shut down work at the site in January because of the...