Plastic pollution is a major challenge along the coasts of Atlantic Africa, with 6.9 million tons of waste generated in 2018 by 17 countries, more than 80% of which was poorly managed. In response to the degradation of oceans and beaches, Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves called on 20 African counterparts to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation to protect marine ecosystems.
Facing the critical crisis of plastic pollution along the coasts of Atlantic Africa about 6.9 million tons of waste generated in 2018, over 80% of which was poorly managed by 17 countries from Mauritania to Gabon, Cabo Verdean President José Maria Neves issued an urgent call to 20 African counterparts to strengthen regional and bilateral cooperation. The goal is to protect marine ecosystems and natural resources, as part of a coordinated international effort.
There is, however, an obvious fact: if President Neves is making this call, it is because plastic pollution is a cross-border threat. Strengthening cooperation seems to me a strategic necessity, not only to protect marine biodiversity, which knows no borders, but also to safeguard fishery resources that are vital for Africa’s economy and food security, and to harmonize waste management policies to turn this ecological crisis into an opportunity for a regional circular economy.
Boubacar Ba, Political Analyst
West Africa is severely affected by a major environmental crisis due to the accumulation of plastic waste in its oceans, contributing 7.8% of global pollution. This pollution, fueled by poor local waste management, coastal landfills (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana), and imports, poses a serious threat to biodiversity and fisheries. Over ten years of cleanup campaigns, NGOs have collected nearly 600 tons of plastic waste from Achados Beach in Cabo Verde, endangering the reproduction of sea turtles.
To turn President Neves’ call into concrete action, the Atlantic coastal countries can, in my view, deploy four major levers. First, harmonize laws and coordinate the ban of single-use plastics to prevent local and even cross-border markets. Second, install upstream waste recovery systems, such as floating barriers in estuaries or rivers, to stop plastic before it reaches the ocean. Third, expand marine protected areas, where fishing and industrial activities are restricted, to allow biodiversity to regenerate. And fourth, use spatial data to identify zones of plastic accumulation at sea.
Boubacar Ba, Political Analyst
President José Maria Neves is calling for direct and coordinated action to address the critical threats facing the ocean, including marine pollution, overfishing, climate change, and the degradation of coastal ecosystems. It is imperative to strengthen cooperation, which involves developing joint strategies and mobilizing the necessary funding. These measures are essential to ensure the sustainability of the oceans and the preservation of this vital natural heritage for future generations.
