News of toxic waste dumping in Somali waters has circulated since the collapse of the Mohamed Siad Barre military regime in 1991, but because of the lack of a functioning central government and general lawless state of Somalia there has been little systematic investigation done on both the source of the toxic waste and its impact on communities living along Somalias 3,300km coastline. The issue received renewed attention in 2004, however, when a Tsunami surge washed up containers containing hazardous waste in Southern Somalia. According to a report from Common Community Care (2006), a local nongovernmental organization, radioactive materials and hydrogen peroxide toxic wastes were found in different locations in Southern and Central Somalia. Common Community Care (CCC) stated an unconfirmed number of fishermen had died from health conditions at locations where containers were found. In Barava district of Lower Shabelle region, local residents spoke of sudden death and skin rashes. Communities reported mass death of fish[1]. Investigations in the 1990s linked the dumping of toxic waste to European front companies associated with the Italian mafia, a claim that was again made in 2012 and which the European Union is reported to be investigating. A 2005 United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report says most of the waste has been dumped on seashores in containers and disposable leaking barrels. And former United Nations Envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, told Aljazeera in 2008 that the world body had reliable information that European and Asian firms were continuously dumping hazardous waste off Somalia[2]. |
| Name of conflict: | Somalia toxic waste dumping, Somalia |
| Country: | Somalia |
| Location of conflict: | Somalian coast |
| Accuracy of location | LOW (Country level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Waste Management |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Landfills, toxic waste treatment, uncontrolled dump sites Nuclear waste storage |
| Specific commodities: | Uranium Chemical products Lead Industrial waste |
| Project details | There are no figures for the estimated amount of waste dumped in Somalia. An Italian government investigation in the 1990s found that 35 million tonnes of waste had been exported to Somalia for $6.6 billion, but this figure would not include other countries whose waste ended up being illegally dumped in Somali waters. What is clear is that the cost of exporting waste is a far cheaper option for developed countries: a UNEP report states that it costs $2.50 per ton to dump toxic waste in Africa compared to $250 per ton to dump waste in Europe [3]. |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 1991 |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Social Development |
| International and Finance Institutions | European Union (EU) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from United States of America United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Greenpeace, Daryeel Bulsho Guud (DBG), SomaCent Development Research Foundation |
| Intensity | Unknown |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Indigenous groups or traditional communities International ejos Local ejos Local government/political parties Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Involvement of national and international NGOs Threats to use arms A number of writers have linked the origins of the piracy phenomenon along the Somali coastline to efforts by communities to protect their livelihoods from toxic dumping and illegal fishing. |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Groundwater pollution or depletion Potential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality |
| Other Environmental impacts | Reports of fish dying due to contamination. |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Deaths Potential: Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..) |
| Other Health impacts | Reports indicated birth deformities and cancerous growths in some coastal communities, and deaths by unknown causes. |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Increase in violence and crime, Loss of livelihood, Militarization and increased police presence, Violations of human rights Potential: Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures |
| Project Status | Unknown |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Criminalization of activists Deaths, Assassinations, Murders Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Violent targeting of activists |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | There is nothing to indicate that the dumping of toxic waste has stopped. Even if it had, communities along Somalias coast will pay the health and environmental consequences in the years to come. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Contributor: | Patrick Burnett |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 165 |