[The framework convention on tobacco control: is there hope for Africa?]

African countries have a lot to gain from the first international public health treaty. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted in May 2003 by 168 member countries at the World Health Assembly. The African delegation demonstrated and put forth a strong, united front throughout the series of sessions which comprised the negotiation process. There are a number of considerable obstacles and challenges particular to this region of the world which makes it difficult to put tobacco control on the African agenda. Only a solid civil society mobilisation movement could serve as a worthy adversary to take on such a challenge. NGOs, such as the Framework Convention Alliance, provide assistance and should continue to support the activities of some of the key players who are still working in isolation on the continent. These organisations can also play a vital role by continuing to favour the provision of access to the available data and information which only exists in English so that the language barrier no longer remains a hindrance to the protection of the health of citizens in Francophone African countries.