- The 94 Ivorian victims of the toxic waste have been denied justice in their country, but they continue the battle for justice and have now filed a case to that effect in the French judiciary.
The toxic waste resulted to the death of 16 people, hospitalised 76 and forced over 100,000 to seek for medical attention.
The French Attorney General’s office has now opened large-scale investigations into what might have been the truth story behind the August 2006 intoxication caused by the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. Probo Koala ship, which was chartered by Tranfigura, was said to have dumped the toxic waste in Abidjan.
Among the charges filed against the two French officials of the Dutch-based Trafigura - Claude Dauphin and Jean-Pierre Valentini, director and West Africa representative of the company, respectively - include intentional murder and corruption of state officials.
Following mounting pressures and condemnations, the officials were arrested by Ivorian authorities in September last year, but they were released five months later.
The reasons for the dumping have not been explained, fuelling speculations by the victims that the officials had been bribed to dump the fatal waste in Cote d’Ivoire.
Trafigura and the Ivorian authorities agreed to settle the dust surrounding the issue. In that the toxic dumping company had agreed to pay US $200 million as compensation. Of this amount, one third goes to victims while state enjoys two third. The victims described this as indecent and unacceptable, considering the damages caused by the intoxication.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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