Africa: Twenty Years After Probo Koala, Africa Still Grapples With 'Waste Colonialism'
[RFI] Twenty years after toxic waste from the cargo ship Probo Koala was dumped across Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, the disaster remains an open wound for many victims and a symbol of wealthy countries sending unwanted waste to Africa.
Twenty years after the toxic waste from the cargo ship Probo Koala was dumped in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the tragedy continues to affect victims and serves as a symbol of waste colonialism, where wealthy countries send unwanted waste to Africa. On August 19, 2006, over 500 tonnes of harmful substances were unloaded from the ship and distributed across 18 sites in the city's economic capital.
The fumes caused a foul smell, killing 17 people and leaving tens of thousands suffering from poisoning symptoms. The disaster occurred during William Akessé's night shift, when his wife, who had just undergone a caesarean section, died from the terrible stench. Akessé's child also died.
In 2007, Trafigura, the commodities trading company responsible for the waste, agreed to pay €152 million to clean up affected sites and compensate victims. However, this settlement has been criticized by victims' organizations, as it granted Trafigura immunity and prevented them from pursuing legal action in Ivorian courts. Later, Trafigura was ordered by the Dutch Court of Cassation to compensate victims and, in 2023, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ruled that the compensation arrangements were insufficient, ordering the creation of a fund to repair the harm caused.
Despite these rulings, the underlying problem persists. Environmental organizations refer to this as "waste colonialism," a practice in which wealthier countries or companies send waste to poorer countries with cheaper disposal and treatment methods, even if those countries lack the necessary infrastructure to manage it safely. The nature of waste arriving in Africa has changed over the years, with electronic waste, textiles, and plastics being the most common categories.
The flow of waste increased after 2018, when China banned imports of many categories of solid waste. Western countries, lacking sufficient processing and recycling capacity, began seeking alternative destinations, particularly in Asia and Africa. Countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya regularly receive large quantities of imported waste, including textiles.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
