Legal management of ballast water in Africa: issues and challenges

This book analyzes the legal and institutional framework for ballast water management in West and Central African ports, highlighting the environmental stakes, challenges and prospects for improvement. As a vector of pollution and invasive species, ballast water poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems. The book examines the implementation of the BWM Convention (2004) in national legislation, highlighting gaps in governance, inadequate infrastructure and lack of regional coordination. Through case studies (Cotonou, Dakar, Douala), it proposes sustainable solutions: legal harmonization, capacity building, regional cooperation and technical innovations. The author argues in favor of integrated maritime governance that respects the environment, in order to reconcile port development with ecological preservation.