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The Bamako Convention is a treaty of African nations prohibiting the import into Africa of any hazardous (including radioactive) waste. The convention came into force in 1998.

ORIGIN

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 impetus for the Bamako convention arose also 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…).

SPECIFICITY

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.
  • It does not make exceptions on certain hazardous wastes (like those for radioactive materials) made by the Basel convention.

STATUS OF THE CONVENTION

  • Negotiated by 12 nations of the African Union (former Organization of African Unity) at Bamako, Mali in January, 1991.
  • Came into force in 1998.
  • To date: 29 Signatories, 25 Parties

PURPOSE OF THE CONVENTION

  • Prohibit the import of all hazardous and radioactive wastes into the African continent for any reason;
  • Minimize and control transboundary movements of hazardous wastes within the African continent.
  • Prohibit all ocean and inland water dumping or incineration of hazardous wastes.
  • Ensure that disposal of wastes is conducted in an “environmentally sound manner ".
  • Promote cleaner production over the pursuit of a permissible emissions approach based on assimilative capacity assumptions
  • Establish the precautionary principle.

SUBSTANCES OR CHEMICALS

The 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 Convention also covers national definitions of hazardous waste. Finally, products that are banned severely restricted or have been the subject of prohibitions are also covered under the Convention as wastes.

GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

Countries should ban the import of hazardous and radioactive wastes as well as all forms of ocean disposal. For intra-African waste trade, parties must minimize the transboundary movement of wastes and only conduct it with consent of the importing and transit states among other controls. They should minimize the production of hazardous wastes and cooperate to ensure that wastes are treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

Secretariat:

Cyrille-Lazare SIEWE | E-mail: cyrille-lazare.siewe@unenvironment.org | Telephone: +254 20 7623437

Communication Officer:

Mohamed Atani | Email: mohamed.atani@unenvironment.org  | Telephone: +254 727531253

The Second Conference of the Parties to the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa will take place at Ivoire Golf Club, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from 30 January to 1 February 2018.

The Conference will be held under the theme: The Bamako Convention: a platform for a pollution-free Africa.

Information for participants:

Accommodation

The Hôtel du Golf, in the vicinity of the venue of the meeting has been reserved for participants. Hotel rates have been negotiated with two (2) hotels close to the venue as follows:

Hôtel du Golfe

Executive room: 70 000 XOF (145 USD)

Standard room: 80 0000 XOF (132 USD)

Contact: Tel: + 225 22 43 10 44 - +225 02 33 77 99 - resagolf@iroko.ci 

Ivotel

Standard room: 65 000 XOF (USD 122)

Contact: Tel + 225 20 25 66 66 - ivotel@ivotel.ci

Participants are advised to book directly with the hotel using the following reference: “COP-2 Ministère de l’Environnement” and copy UN Environment Sub Regional Office (marie-yolande.koffi@un.org/ brahima.toure@un.org) for purposes of coordination. Sponsored participants are expected to personally settle their hotel and other bills from their Daily Subsistence Allowance provided by UN Environment. Non-sponsored participants should settle their bills from their own sources.

Transportation

Transport will be available for participants from and back to the airport. Transport will also be provided from Hotel Ibis Marcory to and from the venue of the meeting. Should a participant wish to arrange for his/her transport, the average rate for a taxi from the airport is USD 20.

Visas

Nationals from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not need an entry visa into Côte d'Ivoire. Nationals from other countries outside the ECOWAS zone require entry visas, unless bilateral agreements exist between their countries and Côte d’Ivoire. For those countries where Cote d’Ivoire Embassies or Consulates exist, participants can get visas before arrival in Abidjan.

Participants from countries with no diplomatic representation of Côte d'Ivoire can use the following URL to apply for visa: http://www.snedai.com/fr/

Official Language

French is the official language in Côte d’Ivoire. However, English is spoken and understood in most of the hotels and restaurants.

Weather and Clothing

Côte d'Ivoire has a tropical climate with an annual average temperature of 27-28 °C and generally abundant rainfall. At this period, however rains are relatively low.

Currency, Credit cards and Banks

The official currency of Côte d'Ivoire is the franc CFA of the BCEAO: 1 Euro=655F CFA (XOF) and 1USD=549.010 (January rate). All major credit cards and traveler’s cheques are accepted at banks, hotels, restaurants and shopping centres.

Health

Proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Côte d’Ivoire.  Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the designated yellow fever belt. (some airlines may require a valid international vaccination certificate for yellow fever).

Electricity

Electric power is 220V running at 50Hz. Voltage converters may be needed for Electronic devices operating at 110V.

Contacts and further information

Travel:  Ms. Julie Kaibe - Telephone: +254 20 7621354  julie.kaibe@unenvironment.org

Meeting Coordination: Mr. Cyrille-Lazare SIEWE - Telephone: +254 20 7623437 - Cyrille-lazare.Siewe@un.org

Local arrangements: Ms. Angele Luh - Telephone: +225-22 51 46 20 - Email: Angele.Luh@un.org - marie-Yolande.koffi@un.org