AFCONE and STUK delegations at African Union headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 8th October 2026.
High-level delegations from African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) convened a planning meeting at the African Union Headquarters to advance regional capacity-building frameworks.
The primary objective of the meeting is to advance the implementation of the “Uplifting Nuclear Safeguards in Africa” program. By institutionalizing strict regulatory mechanisms, the program transforms high-level diplomatic commitments into daily technical practices.
The initiative is significant in harmonizing and strengthening State Systems of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Materials (SSACs) across African State Parties. This fulfils their security obligations under the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) while cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Maintaining Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone is not just about non-proliferation; it is a prerequisite for our prosperity,” stated the AFCONE Chairperson when opening the meeting. “The Pelindaba Treaty actively guarantees the inalienable right of African states to safely exploit the atom for civilian development. By securing our materials through this EU-funded partnership with STUK, we unlock the full potential of nuclear technology to drive Africa’s socio-economic development under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”