- Bamako Convention
The Bamako Convention (in full: "Bamako Convention on the ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa") is a
treaty of African nations prohibiting the import of any hazardous (includingradioactive ) waste. The Convention was negotiated by twelve nations of theOrganization of African Unity atBamako ,Mali in January, 1991. It came into force in 1996 (although some sources cite other dates), and as of late 2005 has 20 parties.Impetus for the Bamako Convention arose from the failure of the
Basel Convention to prohibit trade of hazardous waste toless developed countries (LDCs), and from the realization that many developed nations were exporting toxic wastes to Africa. This impression was strengthened by several prominent cases. One important case, which occurred in 1987, concerned the importation intoNigeria of 18,000barrels of hazardous waste from the Italian companiesEcomar andJelly Wax , which had agreed to pay local farmerSunday Nana $100 per month for storage. The barrels, found in storage in the port ofLagos , contained toxic waste includingpolychlorinated biphenyl s, and their eventual shipment back to Italy led to protests closing three Italianports .The Bamako Convention uses a format and language similar to that of the Basel Convention, but is much stronger in prohibiting all imports of hazardous waste. Additionally, it does not make exceptions on certain hazardous wastes (like those for radioactive materials) made by the Basel Convention.
ee also
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Basel Convention External links
* [http://www.ban.org Basel Action Network]
* [http://www.ban.org/Library/bamako_treaty.html Bamako Convention] - Full text
* [http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/Bamako%20Convention.pdf List of Countries which have Signed, Ratified/Acceded ]
* [http://www.american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/nigeria.htm Nigerian case entry at Trade and Environment Database]
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