Burkina Faso’s Transitional Assembly voted unanimously on Tuesday to join the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. It’s a significant step towards realizing Ouagadougou’s plans to build a nuclear reactor.
The Convention sets a legal framework regulating civil liability in case of nuclear damage. In June, the West African nation signed a deal with Russia to build a nuclear power plant. It’s an opportunity for Burkina’s ruling junta to boost energy capacity and improve energy security in the country. Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rostaom has signed around 20 nuclear energy partnerships across Africa.
Under the leadership of Speaker Dr. Ousmane Bougouma, the National Assembly ratified the Vienna Convention, a fundamental text dating from May 21, 1963.
This membership is not merely a diplomatic formality: it provides Burkina Faso with an international legal shield as the country prepares to join the ranks of nations using nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
The Vienna Convention establishes a rigorous framework for civil liability in the event of an accident. It rests on key principles: the operator’s exclusive and objective liability, the limitation of this liability in time and amount, and the obligation to maintain insurance or other financial guarantees.
By joining this treaty, Burkina Faso ensures that, in the event of an incident related to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the national courts will retain exclusive jurisdiction.
This framework also guarantees compensation for bodily injury, property damage, as well as environmental and economic losses.
The focus on energy independence
This legislative acceleration is part of the transitional government’s energy sovereignty strategy. To address its electricity production deficit, Ouagadougou has officially opted for the development of a medium-term nuclear power program.This strategic choice has been reinforced by a series of major agreements with Russian giant Rosatom.
Following several memoranda of understanding, a government cooperation agreement was formally signed on June 19, 2025, in Saint Petersburg between Burkina Faso and Russia.
Accession to the Vienna Convention thus constitutes the essential legal framework for securing these future investments and reassuring international partners.
With this vote, Burkina Faso aligns itself with the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and confirms its ambition to transform its energy landscape through nuclear power, while complying with international safety and responsibility requirements.
Author: Mpheza Clara Manda
Luska, Zambia
Senior Correspondent
