Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste incident
The Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste incident occurred in August 2006, when approximately 400 tons of toxic petroleum waste were illegally dumped in and around the city of Abidjan. This event is notable for highlighting the vulnerability of developing nations to exploitation by multinational corporations. The waste originated from the tanker Probo Koala, registered in Panama, and was linked to the company Trafigura, which has faced significant criticism for its role in the incident. The illegal dumping adversely affected around 100,000 residents, with local hospitals reporting 30,000 seeking medical attention and 17 confirmed fatalities. Health issues stemming from exposure to the toxic substances have persisted, including respiratory problems and skin lesions.
The incident not only led to local health crises but also sparked international investigations and legal proceedings. Trafigura's denial of wrongdoing and attempts to suppress media coverage further complicated the situation. In a significant development, the African Court ruled on September 5, 2023, that the Ivorian government bore responsibility for the disaster, reflecting the ongoing repercussions of this tragic event on both public health and governance in Côte d'Ivoire.
Subject Terms
Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste incident
THE EVENT: Illegal dumping of toxic petroleum wastes in and around the city of Abidjan in the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire
DATE: August, 2006
One of the worst cases of intentional dumping of dangerous toxic wastes, the Côte d’Ivoire incident demonstrates how developing nations can be exploited by unscrupulous corporations based in developed nations.
In August, 2006, at least 400 tons of products derived from the processing of were illegally dumped at night in sites in and around Abidjan, a port city that is the former capital of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The wastes came from the tanker Probo Koala, which was registered in Panama. Approximately 100,000 residents of the Abidjan region were adversely affected by the dumping. Local hospitals reported that at least 30,000 people sought medical attention, and 17 died from to the toxic wastes. Hundreds of contaminated livestock around Abidjan had to be euthanized. Health problems stemming from the environmental contamination have continued among locals. Persistent physical complaints of those exposed include ailments from breathing difficulties and choking to body lesions, blisters, nosebleeds, headaches, and nervous system paralysis.
Trafigura, a transnational trading company based in Great Britain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, had chartered the ship but denied any wrongdoing for several years after the incident, claiming that only “slops” (mere dirty water from the washing of the ship’s tanks) had been dumped. Trafigura sued British newspapers for libel when they reported the company’s involvement in the dumping and worked to restrain the British news media with gag orders. Although the Ivorian government prosecuted locals who had been bribed, some of the legal issues surrounding the case have remained unresolved.
Dutch chemical-cleanup teams that visited twelve of at least eighteen affected Abidjan waste sites verified that the tanker “slops” were, in fact, toxic. The dumped materials contained dangerous concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, a killer gas, several tons of which were found; among other caustic agents found were mercaptans (also known as thiols) and gasoline. Port records show that the ship had visited a port in Amsterdam to offload the wastes, but the company did not want to pay the high fee—$300,000—required to cover the expensive treatment and disposal of the waste. Instead a front company, named Compagnie Tommy, was immediately created in Abidjan. Local Ivorian personnel of the front company were apparently bribed to take the waste and surreptitiously it in poor urban regions.
In the months following the incident, as national and international investigations began, many Ivorian government officials resigned. Even as lawyers for Trafigura tried to sue British news media companies for libel and worked to prevent the publishing of further news stories about the incident, an email trail was exposed that showed the company’s involvement in cover-ups and influence peddling in high places, including among British lords who served on Trafigura boards. On September 5, 2023, the African Court ruled that the disaster was the state's responsibility.
"Ivory Coast: Victory at the African Court for Victims of the TRAFIGURA Toxic Waste Dump." International Federation for Human Rights, 12 Oct. 2023, www.fidh.org/en/issues/business-human-rights-environment/business-and-human-rights/ivory-coast-victory-at-the-african-court-for-victims-of-the-trafigura. Accessed 17 July 2024.
"Ten Years On, the Survivors of Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping in Cote d'Ivoire Remain in the Dark." United Nations, 17 Aug. 2016, www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2016/08/ten-years-survivors-illegal-toxic-waste-dumping-cote-divoire-remain-dark. Accessed 17 July 2024.