Noel Stott, Senior Reseach Fellow: Arms Management Programme, ISS Tshwane (Pretoria)

The entry-into-force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) has taken a significant step forward in recent times with 26 countries now having deposited their instruments of ratification with the African Union (AU) Commission. Under Article 18, the Treaty will enter into force on the date of deposit of the twenty-eighth instrument of ratification.

In June 1995, at the 31st Ordinary Session of the then OAU held in Addis Ababa, the Pelindaba Treaty was agreed to. The Treaty declares Africa, as well as its associated islands, a zone free of nuclear weapons, [as] an important step towards the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, the promotion of co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, complete disarmament, and the enhancement of regional peace and security. Through the Treaty, Africa seeks to ensure that nuclear weapons are not developed, produced, tested, or otherwise acquired or stationed in any of the countries on the continent

As of 20 October 2008, all 53 members of the AU have signed the Treaty. However, the following countries have not yet ratified the Treaty: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Democratic Rep. of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sao Tome & Principe, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia as well as the area known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

In a strongly worded statement the African Union’s Peace and Security Council at its 53rd Meeting on 31 May 2006, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia stated: “It is a matter of concern that, 10 years after the Treaty was first opened for ratification, it has not yet come into force.”

Under the terms of the Treaty, African States pledge inter alia the following:

• renunciation of nuclear explosive devices;

• prevention of the stationing of nuclear explosive devices;

• prohibition of the testing of nuclear explosive devices;

• declaration, dismantling, destruction or conversion of nuclear explosive  devices and the facilities for their manufacture;

• prohibition of dumping of radioactive wastes.

The Pelindaba Treaty however also supports the use of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes and in this respect each party undertakes to conduct all activities for the peaceful use of nuclear energy under strict non-proliferation measures; to provide assurance of exclusively peaceful use; and, to conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement with IAEA for the purpose of verifying compliance.

Pelindaba, apart from preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction in Africa, has many potential benefits including the collective promotion of the use of nuclear science and technology for economic and social development and the potential for the establishment and strengthening of mechanisms for co-operation at the bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels for this purpose.

A further reason why Southern Africa countries such as Namibia, Malawi and Zambia should ratify the Treaty as soon as possible is that Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Boniface Guwe Chidyausiki, has been elected to chair the next Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT. Due to be held in New York in May 2009, this will be the third and final session of the Preparatory Committee that will be held prior to the Review Conference.

Entry-into-force of the Pelindaba Treaty will not only boost Africa’s commitment to the goal of a nuclear-free world but will also show solidarity with Ambassador Chidyausiki as he takes on this enormous responsibility.