1. As from 23 June 1981, the present Convention and the Protocol concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency shall be open for accession by the States referred to in article XXVI.

2. After the entry into force of this Convention and any protocol thereto, any African State not referred to in article XXVI may accede to them.

3. This Convention and any protocol thereto shall also remain open after the entry into force for accession by any other State, subject to the prior approval of three quarters of the States referred to in article XXVI which have become Contracting Parties.

4. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

Article XXIX

1. This Convention and the first of its protocols shall enter into force on the same date, in accordance with the following paragraph 2.

2. The Convention, and any of its protocols shall enter into force on the sixtieth day following the date of deposit of at least six instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval of, or accession to such protocol by the Parties referred to in article XXVI.

3. Thereafter, this Convention and any protocol thereto shall enter into force with respect to any State, referred to in article XXVI on the sixtieth day following the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

WITHDRAWAL

Article XXX

1. At any time after three years from the date of entry into force of this Convention, any Contracting Party may withdraw from this Convention by giving written notification of withdrawal.

2. Except as may be otherwise provided in any Protocol to this Convention, any Contracting Party may, at the time after five years from the date of entry into force of such protocol, withdraw from such protocol by giving written notification of withdrawal.

3. Withdrawal shall take effect ninety days after the date on which notification of withdrawal is received by the Depositary.

4. Any Contracting party which withdraws from this Convention shall be considered as also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it was a Party.

5. Any Contracting Party which, upon its withdrawal from a protocol, is no longer a Party to any protocol to this Convention, shall be considered as also having withdrawn from this Convention.

ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS

Article XVIII

1. The Contracting Parties, at a conference of plenipotentiaries, may adopt additional protocols to this Convention pursuant to paragraph 2 of article IV.

2. A conference of plenipotentiaries shall be convened for the purpose of adopting additional protocols by the Organization at the request of two-thirds of the Contracting Parties.

3. Pending the entry into force of this Convention the Organization may, after consulting with the signatories to this Convention, convene a conference of plenipotentiaries for the purpose of adopting additional protocols.

Article XIX. Amendment of the Convention or Protocols

1. Any Contracting Party to this Convention may propose amendments to the Convention or to any of the protocols. The texts of any such draft amendments shall be communicated to the Contracting Parties by the Organization six months before their submission to an ordinary meeting of the Contracting Parties for examination.

2. Any amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties and shall enter into force twelve months after its approval.

Article XX. Annexes and amendments to Annexes

1. Annexes to this Convention or to any of its Protocols shall form an integral part of the Convention or such protocol.

2. Except as may be otherwise provided in any protocol, the procedure foreseen in article XIX shall apply to the adoption and entry into force of any amendments to annexes to this Convention or to any Protocol.

3. The adoption and entry into force of a new annex to this Convention or to any protocol shall be subject to the same procedure as for the adoption and entry into force of an amendment to an annex in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this article, provided that , if any amendment to the Convention or the protocol concerned is involved, the new annex shall not enter into force until such times as the amendment to the Convention or the protocol concerned enters into force.