Bamako Convention

The Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa, or more simply the Bamako Convention was adopted in 1991 and entered into force in 1998.

Principle of this convention

This international convention was inspired by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and completes it by adapting its content to Africa for developing countries.

This treaty prohibits the export to Africa of hazardous waste, including radioactive waste, even for recycling.

The Bamako Convention moreover subjects the transborder movement of hazardous waste in Africa to notification and monitoring procedures similar to those defined by the Basel Convention.

Objectives of the Bamako Convention

The objective is to protect the health of populations and the environment of African countries concerning the movement, dumping and handling of hazardous waste coming from other countries. The convention also aims to improve and ensure ecologically rational management of hazardous waste, as well as the cooperation of the African countries concerned.

The text of the Bamako Convention is available in French on the African Union website: http://www.africa-union.org