H.E. Gaspard Liyoko MBOYO officially sworn as the AFCONE Chairperson for a second term at African Union headquarters, Ethiopia, Addia Ababa, September 2026.
The continuation of AFCONE Chairperson H.E. Gaspard Liyoko MBOYO leadership is an immense victory for the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
As the official custodian of the treaty, AFCONE under Mboyo’s guidance has aggressively pivoted from mere non-proliferation policy toward the active, sustainable implementation of nuclear energy for development.
“Africa proudly made a clear decision for a different path in the history of nuclear energy,” Chairperson Mboyo noted during his address, reaffirming his unwavering fidelity to the ideals of the Pelindaba Treaty. “Nuclear security is not just about restriction. It is about opportunity, about strategic advantages for development and leveraging nuclear energy for economic advancement.”
Under his renewed mandate, AFCONE is poised to accelerate its mission of driving sustainable development, regional security, and scientific innovation across Africa. Chairperson Mboyo has been highly proactive in building international and regional bridges, recently spearheading a landmark partnership on the margins of the African Union Summit with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency to advance peaceful nuclear development.
By scaling up nuclear oversight, certifying member states in nuclear safeguards, and engaging local legislatures, Mboyo’s leadership is effectively integrating nuclear applications into Africa’s broader Agenda 2063 framework. The Chairperson emphasized that expanding nuclear technology will be a critical solution to addressing climate change, curing energy deficits, and securing long-term economic integration for the continent.
H.E. Gaspard Liyoko MBOYO signing documentation during a swearing in ceremony for a second term at African Union headquarters, Ethiopia, Addia Ababa, September 2026.
Following his decisive re-election to lead Africa’s premier nuclear governance body, H.E. Gaspard Liyoko Mboyo has re-anchored the continent’s commitment to driving peace, technological innovation, and absolute energy sovereignty.
A renowned nuclear lawyer, safeguards inspector, and senior expert with decades of experience coordinating national nuclear programs, Chairperson Mboyo has long been a vocal champion for harnessing the peaceful applications of the atom.
His continued mandate at the helm of AFCONE comes at a critical juncture when African nations are increasingly turning away from fossil-fuel dependency and looking toward nuclear technology to catalyze economic transformation.
Mboyo’s leadership has already triggered profound shifts in continental energy policy. In a historic move on the margins of the African Union Summit, AFCONE, alongside the African Union Commission, formalized a landmark partnership with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The agreement builds a robust, structured framework for capacity building, policy design, and technical resource mobilization across African states.
With a renewed mandate, extensive technical expertise, and a growing alliance of global partners, Chairperson Mboyo’s leadership promises a genuine “new dawn”—proving that for Africa, the future of development is undeniably linked to the safe, secure, and peaceful application of nuclear science.