The Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import Into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes Within Africa


The objective of the Bamako Convention is to prevent the import of hazardous wastes including radioactive wastes into African nations that are party to the Convention. It also prohibits ocean disposal of all types and obliges African country Parties to minimize their own intra-African waste trade and only conduct it with prior informed consent. Parties must also engage in environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous wastes generated within these African nations while auditing and minimizing generation of hazardous wastes.

The Bamako Convention provides strong legal prohibitions on hazardous waste import and dumping by declaring such activity an illegal and criminal act. The prohibition also applies to products which have been banned, cancelled or withdrawn from registration for environmental or health reasons. The Convention also prohibits hazardous waste incineration at sea or their disposal in the seabed and sub-seabed. Other features include the adoption of the precautionary principle in relation to waste generation and promotion of cleaner production. Transboundary transfer of polluting technologies is also prohibited under the Convention.

The Convention was negotiated by twelve nations of the Organization of African Unity at Bamako, Mali in January, 1991. The Convention entered into force on April 22, 1998 and has been ratified by 23 countries.


The tabs in this section of the Handbook provide a description of the Convention, its obligations and the information tools needed to implement it. As well, resources documents and contacts are provided to make the task easier.