Burkina Faso has formally acceded to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (VCCLND). The decision follows the launch of a medium-term nuclear power programme in collaboration with Russia.
Accession to the VCCLND was unanimously approved by the Transitional Legislative Assembly on 27 January. The Convention 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.
As of January 2026 there are 48 parties to the Convention. These are states that have formally deposited their instruments of ratification, accession, or succession. There are also 13 signatories including Colombia, Israel and Spain, which have signed but not yet ratified the treaty.
By joining the Convention, Burkina Faso signals to the international community its readiness to adopt a globally recognised system for managing the potential risks associated with nuclear activities.
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. In October 2024, Rosatom and Burkina Faso signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the nuclear power facility. In June 2025, Burkina Faso formally signed the final administrative document of a landmark intergovernmental nuclear agreement with Russia.
