H.E. Mr. Gaspard Liyoko MBOYO was elected as the AFCONE Chairperson on 25th August 2026, for the second term, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) has officially announced the re-election of H.E. Gaspard LIYOKO MBOYO to continue leading the continent’s premier nuclear governance body.
Under his leadership, AFCONE is poised to accelerate its mission of driving sustainable development, regional security, and scientific innovation across Africa.
Serving as the Commissioner representing the Republic of Congo, LIYOKO MBOYO renewed mandate ensures continuity during a critical phase of nuclear energy development and non-proliferation advocacy across Africa.
H.E. LIYOKO MBOYO, a seasoned diplomat from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has long been a champion of leveraging high-tech scientific solutions for socioeconomic growth. His diplomatic acumen has been credited with bridging gaps between regional economic blocs and aligning Africa’s nuclear agenda with the African Union’s Agenda 2063
The re-election of H.E. LIYOKO MBOYO comes at a critical juncture as African nations increasingly look toward nuclear science to address energy deficits, medical shortages, and agricultural challenges.
The re-election follows a highly active three years term, aimed at expanding the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technology to meet the continent’s socio-economic and climate goals.
“I accept the responsibility of leading AFCONE with deep gratitude and focus. Our commission stands united in its unwavering dedication to advancing the goals of the Pelindaba Treaty,” says the Chairperson.
Under LIYOKO MBOYO’s ongoing leadership, AFCONE has significantly ramped up its strategic partnerships. The commission recently solidified a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) alongside the African Union Commission (AUC) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). This partnership aims to bridge the gap between nuclear innovation and regional implementation by boosting capacity building, training, and robust regulatory frameworks
With more than 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, Mboyo has consistently positioned nuclear technology as a vital component of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Under the guidance of the AFCONE, nuclear technology is no longer viewed strictly through a lens of restriction, but rather as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation.
AFCONE serves as the regional regulator tasked with overseeing the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. At global forums like the NPT Review Conference in New York, Mboyo has maintained a strict stance on total nuclear elimination while demanding that the peaceful applications of atomic energy, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, and power generation—remain accessible to developing nations.
Under his renewed mandate, AFCONE is shifting aggressively from policy discourse to the practical execution of peaceful nuclear technology, balancing economic expansion with rigid international safety standards.
Chairperson Mboyo’s next term will centers on transforming African nuclear infrastructure from foundational policy into operational safety and development. Key priorities include strengthening National Frameworks, securing Negative Security Assurances, establishing and equipping dedicated centers across the continent to
build a localized “nuclear security culture” and provide professional training, focus on fulfilling the landmark international partnerships, standardizing waste management protocols, regulatory frameworks, and nuclear fuel cycle safety.
The overarching vision championed by Mboyo is a dual-track strategy often summarized as: An Africa entirely free of nuclear weapons but heavily developed through nuclear science and technology.