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Driven by its aspiration to establish nuclear programs in collaboration with partners such as Russia, Burkina Faso has formally acceded to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage.
The accession to the convention was unanimously authorized by theTransitional Legislative Assembly on January 27.
This decision follows Burkina Faso’s initiation of a medium-term nuclear power program, as reported by Sputnik.
The nation is collaborating with Russia on the construction of a nuclear power facility.
Burkina Faso and Russia’s nuclear partnership
In June 2025, Burkina Faso formally signed the final administrative document of a landmark intergovernmental nuclear agreement with Russia, thereby advancing its pursuit of nuclear energy.
The deal dates back to 2024, when Burkina Faso and Russia’s state corporation specializing in nuclear energy and high-tech products, Rosatom, initiated a nuclear deal.
By March 2024, Burkina Faso and Rosatom touted being in the process of signing a road map to build a nuclear reactor in the West African country.
In October 2024, Rosatom and Burkina Faso signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the nuclear power facility.
The junta government, which at the time was on a campaign to dispel all Western influences and partnerships from its country, turned to Russia to establish a framework for a nuclear program that would help reduce the country’s energy deficit.
This move was also in line with Russia’s ambition to strengthen its influence on the African continent, as Moscow has since gone on to establish nuclear deals with other Sahel states.
Given its status as one of the world’s least electrified countries, Burkina Faso sees nuclear energy as a transformative opportunity to boost energy capacity and improve energy security.
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
The Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (VCLND) is a key international treaty designed to ensure that adequate compensation is available for damage resulting from a nuclear incident, setting forth a strict liability regime where the operator of a nuclear installation is exclusively liable, irrespective of fault.
By joining the Convention, Burkina Faso signals to the international community its readiness to adopt a globally recognized system for managing the potential risks associated with nuclear activities.
Acceding to the VCLND is an essential prerequisite for entering into such high-stakes international nuclear cooperation, providing the necessary legal assurances and risk management structure required by potential foreign partners.
