UN Experts: Côte d’Ivoire’s Probo Koala Toxic Waste Victims Still Await Justice 20 Years On

ABIDJAN/GENEVA, 28 July 2026 – Twenty years after the dumping of toxic waste from the Probo Koala vessel in Côte d’Ivoire, thousands of victims continue to wait for justice, accountability, and effective remedies for the human rights violations they suffered, United Nations human rights experts have said. The experts described the 2006 disaster as a stark example of hazardous waste being transferred to the developing world, leading to widespread violations of the rights to life, health, a clean and healthy environment, and access to justice. In August 2006, the Probo Koala, chartered by commodity trading company Trafigura, offloaded toxic waste at the Port of Abidjan. The waste was later dumped by a local contractor at multiple sites across the city, exposing thousands of residents to dangerous chemicals. According to official records, 17 people died from toxic gas inhalation, while more than 100,000 others sought medical treatment after suffering symptoms including nausea, headaches, breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and skin burns. The UN experts noted that while Trafigura and some of its executives reached financial settlements with Côte d’Ivoire and other parties, many victims have yet to receive meaningful compensation. Although about 30,000 claimants settled a civil case against the company in the United Kingdom, reports indicate that many affected people never received the compensation intended for them. The experts also criticised the sealing of scientific evidence as part of the legal settlement, arguing that information relating to toxic substances should not be hidden from public scrutiny. In 2010, a Dutch court convicted Trafigura of illegally exporting hazardous waste from Amsterdam and concealing its toxic nature, imposing a criminal fine. However, prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges over offences committed in Côte d’Ivoire, a decision the experts said contributed to impunity. A major breakthrough came in 2023 when the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ruled that serious human rights violations had occurred and ordered Côte d’Ivoire to establish a compensation fund, financed jointly by Trafigura and the Ivorian government, to support victims. However, nearly three years later, the UN experts say the judgment has yet to be fully implemented. "All responsible actors must comply without delay with the ruling, ensuring its full and effective implementation," the experts said. They stressed that access to an effective remedy is a fundamental principle under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and warned that victims should not have to wait another two decades for justice. Source: United Nations Human Rights Experts.