Ten people died and more than 100,000 sought medical treatment after hundred of tons of waste was offloaded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This happened on August 19, 2006, from a Vessel chartered by the Dutch commodities trading company, Trafigura Beheer BV.

Tommy, an Ivorian company, loaded the waste on special trucks and dumped it at several sites around the city, in some places just yards from residential homes, prompting whole neighbourhood to flee.

A government commission investigated the cause of the deadly toxic waste scandal and accused some senior officials implicated in the affair. But, findings of the reports did not bring charges to bear on any of those accused. Demonstrators expressed their rage by burning tires.

Many vehicles were set on fire by mobs who claimed justice and compensation. One month later, the Ivorian government hired a French company to dispose of the waste. The company moved the toxic waste out of the country. But, till now, many people still suffer from the dumping of the lethal ‘slop’.

Infringement of treaty

Côte d’Ivoire and Netherlands are signatories to the Basel Convention, an international treaty that seeks to limit the generation and transboundary movement of hazardous waste. However, the scandal occurred because of a manifest willingness to violate legal and regulatory institutions with the goal of serving personal interests.

Actually, the former Ivorian Transport Minister, Kobenan Anaky, has granted the company Tommy and its partners a license to offload cargoes (from the vessel) without assessing their capacity and ability to do so. He also granted the company illegal authority to access ships at the port.

Moreover, the company Tommy loaded the waste on special trucks and dumped it in the city under the escort of Ivorian armed forces, with the agreement of army officials. On the other hand, many Ivorian senior officials were aware that Tommy was dumping waste in and around Abidjan, rather than neutralizing it. These officials said they believed Tommy had the facilities to dispose off the waste legally.

Protests

Few days after the deadly chemicals were dumped, dwellers of waste dumping sites moved down the streets to fight for justice many times. Their protest was broken up by the riot police who fired tear gas and water cannon on the demonstrators, chasing them through the streets. Many demonstrators were injured and some were arrested by riot police.

A deal

Two months later, Ivorian authorities started legal proceedings against Trafigura and three of its representatives in Côte d’Ivoire, three French citizens, were jailed in Abidjan. On February 13th 2007, the Ivorian government set a private deal with Trafigura, the Dutch commodities trading company. In this agreement, Trafigura paid 152 million Euros to the Ivorian government, and in return, Trafigura representatives previously jailed in Abidjan were released and the government stopped the legal proceedings against the Dutch company.

After the pact was made with Trafigura, Ivorian authorities organized a conference broadcast on the national TV channel and said the jackpot would serve three goals: a financial compensation for toxic waste victims to pay adequate treatment; the construction of factories specialized in the treatment of domestic waste; the payment for the service of the French company that disposed of the deadly chemicals.

The French company got paid for its service, but till now, there are no obvious signs that a factory is being constructed and most of the toxic waste victims have not received the financial compensation. A financial compensation too small to cure the diseases provoked by the deadly chemicals Toxic waste victims registered at sanitary facilities received 300 Euros, a fair financial compensation for an adequate treatment.

Jules Dekagnan, resident of Cocody Riviera, said: “my wife got some problems and reported to Cocody Clinic for treatment. 4 months later, she received 300 Euros compensation, but till now, she still complains of pain in the throat and other parts of the body. Doctors said about 1000 Euros is needed for adequate treatment. We call on kind-hearted people for help. We have no one to turn to.”

This story is the one of thousands of other victims whose voices remain unfortunately unheard. Dekagnan is luckily still in good health but he has no one to turn to in order to alleviate the strange disease his wife got.

Justice

Adoni Yao, the Chairman of the national federation of the organizations of toxic waste victims said, as a last resort, its organization has hired a lawyer to start legal procedure against Trafigura and the Ivorian government.

In August 2008, 12 Ivorian officials were arrested. September 29th 2008, these officials are appearing before the court of appeal of Abidjan in a legal proceeding against those accused of the toxic waste scandal. However, the most worrying issue is to know what long term effects this disaster will have on the environment and on the future generations.