Bamako Convention

In this section of this module, we’ll be taking a more in-depth look into the Bamako Convention.

Overview

The Bamako convention is a response to Article 11 of the Basel convention which encourages parties to enter into bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements on Hazardous Waste to help achieve the objectives of the convention.
The Bamako convention specifically addresses the issues of hazardous substances in African countries.

Bamako Convention - History

The impetus for the Bamako convention arose from:

The failure of the Basel Convention to prohibit trade of hazardous waste to less developed countries (LDCs);
The realization that many developed nations were exporting toxic wastes to Africa (Koko case in Nigeria, Probo Koala case in Ivory Coast).

It was negotiated by 12 nations of the African Union (former Organization of African Unity) at Bamako, Mali in January, 1991 and came into force 1998.

To date, the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa (in full length) has 29 Signatories and 25 Parties (including Egypt).

Bamako Convention – Aims and Provisions

To prohibit the import of all hazardous and radioactive wastes into the African continent for any reason.

To minimize and control transboundary movements of hazardous wastes within the African continent.

To prohibit all ocean and inland water dumping or incineration of hazardous wastes.

To ensure that disposal of wastes is conducted in an “environmentally sound manner”.

To promote cleaner production over the pursuit of a permissible emissions approach based on assimilative capacity assumptions.

To establish the precautionary principle.

Bamako Convention – Differences

The Bamako Convention covers more wastes than covered by the Basel Convention as it not only includes radioactive wastes but also considers any waste with a listed hazardous characteristic or a listed constituent as a hazardous waste.
The Bamako Convention also covers national definitions of hazardous waste.
Other products also covered under the Convention as waste include that have been severely restricted or have been subject of prohibitions.