KEY DATES
2023
8 – 11 May
Pelindaba (South Africa)
First Training course under the AFCONE/STUK Programme on uplifting safeguards in Africa
The following countries participated: Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, Tanzania.
March
Kampala (Uganda)
Signature of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation between AFCONE and the Nuclear Business Platform (NBP)
19 February
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
High-Level Side Event at the 36th African Union Summit
- AFCONE cooperating with the Government of Namibia and the European Commission to uplift safeguards and leverage nuclear energy for African development.
18 February
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
AFCONE and CTBTO co-hosting a high-level Side Event at the 36th African Union Summit
- Advancing Peace, Security, Scientific and Industrial Development in Africa.
2022
4 October
Geneva (Switzerland)
Signature of MoU for cooperation between AFCONE and ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
September
AFCONE signed MoU (upgraded from Practical Arrangements) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
September
AFCONE signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK), under a cooperation project with the European Commission to uplift safeguards in Africa
31 August – 1 Septembre
Pretoria (South Africa)
13th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE)
The Session elected the following States to be members of AFCONE, in line with the relevant provisions of Annex III of the Treaty of Pelindaba: Algeria, Congo, Republic Democratic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
17 - 18 May
AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
The 5th Ordinary Session of the Conference of States Parties to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)
The Session elected the following States to be members of AFCONE, in line with the relevant provisions of Annex III of the Treaty of Pelindaba: Algeria, Congo, Republic Democratic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
18 April
The Kingdom of Morocco ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba
31 March
The meeting called for joint action between international and regional actors in undertaking implementation efforts for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
23 Feb
Democratic Republic of Congo ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
2021
December
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AFCONE and OPANAL (The Agency for the prohibition of nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean).
2020
September
Signature of a MoU for cooperation between AFCONE and the Russian State Atomic Energy Cooperation (ROSATOM)
7 February
Cabo Verde ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
2019
August
Algiers (Algeria)
Signature of an MoU between AFCONE and The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in August 2019
May
Algiers (Algeria)
Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA).
12 – 13 February
Algiers (Algeria)
Extraordinary Session of the AFCONE Commission
The objective was to commemoration of the 1st Nuclear Test in Africa, (by France), in the Algerian desert. (13 Feb 1960)
2018
December
The AFCONE Secretariat moved to New AFCONE office Premises at 169 Corobay Avenue, In Pretoria, South Africa
5 December
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted 63 resolutions and 4 decisions related to disarmament, including a report titled “African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty"
The report called upon African states not yet party to the Treaty of Pelindaba to sign and ratify it, as well as for NPT states parties in Africa, which have not yet done so, to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the IAEA.
October
Ordinary Session of the AFCONE Commission.
14 June
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
The Forth (4th) Ordinary Session of Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the Treaty of Pelindaba
The Conference elected an AFCONE Commission composing of the following eleven States Parties for a mandate of three-years: Algeria, Chad, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe
2017
22 February
Niger ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
2015
18 - 19 May
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
5th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE)
- In accordance with the Treaty provisions, the Session elected Honourable George Ochilo Ayacko Mbogo of Kenya and Dr. Gatsha Mazithulela of Zimbabwe as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of AFCONE, respectively.
2015
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Signature Of The Host Agreement Between The AUC & The Government Of South Africa
2014
29 - 30 May
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
3rd Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the Treaty of Pelindaba
The Conference elected the following countries to be members of AFCONE, to serve for a term of three years: Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
27 January
Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba
2013
11 – 12 November
Pretoria (South Africa)
3rd Ordinary Session of the AFCONE Commission
11 October
South Africa announced that it was planning to enrich uranium at its old facility, Valindaba.
2012
12 - 13 November
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
2nd Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the Treaty of Pelindaba
The Chairperson of AFCONE, Mr. Abdul Samad Minty, stated that discussions with South Africa about hosting AFCONE’s Headquarters were ongoing. He clarified that in the meantime AFCONE’s Secretariat would be housed in the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
26 July
The Second Ordinary Session of AFCONE
- The session concluded with the adoption by the Commission of its rules of procedure, the interim structure AFCONE. This session recommended a scale of assessment for adoption by the Second Conference of States Parties.
24 July
Comoros deposited its instrument of ratification for the Treaty of Pelindaba.
1 March
Namibia submitted its instrument of ratification after ratifying the treaty on 6 February.
18 January
Chad deposited its instrument of ratification for the Treaty of Pelindaba.
4 January
Guinea-Bissau submitted its instrument of ratification for the Treaty of Pelindaba.
2011
23 December
Guinea-Bissau ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
18 October
Chad ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
27 June
Ghana submitted its instrument of ratification after ratifying the Treaty of Pelindaba on 11 May.
4 May
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
1st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE)
- At the session, the Commissioners elected Mr. Abdul Samad Minty of South Africa as the Chairperson of AFCONE and Mr. Mourad Telmini of Tunisia as Vice-Chairperson.
11 March
Russia ratified Protocols I and II of the African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov asserted, however, that the ratification came with several reservations. These stipulate that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons against African states which may hold allied commitments to other nuclear states, which may participate in military actions using nuclear weapons against Russia, or which are part of coalitions seeking to do so. Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov also affirmed the reservation that Russia’s signing of the treaty does not apply to the U.S. base of Diego Garcia, which is located on an island of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
2010
4 November
AUC Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
1st Conference Of The State Parties (CSP)
The Conference elected the following countries to the membership of AFCONE for a three-year term: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa Togo, and Tunisia.
2009
15 July
Entry Into Force Of The Pelindaba Treaty
2005
26-28 April
Tlatelolco (Mexico)
The Conference of States Parties and Signatories of Treaties that establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
- The Conference adopted a declaration, reaffirming that nuclear weapons constitute a threat to humanity, urging nuclear weapons states to adopt negative security assurances, and stressing the importance of the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
2003
December
Libya announced that it would abandon its WMD programme.
23 December
Madagascar acceded to the Treaty of Pelindaba.
September
The 58th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 58/30 entitled “African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.”
- The resolution called on African states that had not yet ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. The Resolution called upon the NWS that had not yet ratified Protocols I and II to do so at the earliest possible date, and on states concerned by Protocol III to take all measures needed for the application of the Treaty in the territories for which they are responsible.
19 February
Equatorial Guinea acceded to the Treaty of Pelindaba. deposited its instrument of ratification on 19 February 2003.
2002
14 March
Lesotho deposited its instrument of ratification.
6 March
Lesotho ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba.
2001
September
The 56th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 56/17 entitled “African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty,” which called on African States that had not yet ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible.
- The Resolution called upon the NWS that had not yet ratified Protocols I and II to do so at the earliest possible date, and on States concerned by Protocol III to take all measures needed for the application of the Treaty in the territories they are responsible for.
18 June
Nigeria deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
9 January
Kenya deposited its Instrument of Ratification.
2000
21 January
Guinea deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
17 July
Eswatini (Swaziland) deposited its instrument of ratification.
21 January
Guinea deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
1999
1 December
The 54th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted, without a vote, Resolution 54/48, introduced by Kenya.
The Resolution called upon African States that had not yet done so to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible, to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the IAEA, as required by the Treaty, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the 1997 Model Protocol. The Resolution called upon the NWS that had not yet done so to ratify the Protocols as soon as possible.
28 Julho
Côte d’ Ivoire deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
22 Julho
Mali deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba, bringing the number of ratifications to eleven.
16 Jun
Botswana deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
1998
27 August
Burkina Faso deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
19 June
Tanzania deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
6 April
Zimbabwe deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
27 March
South Africa deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
24 February
Mauritania deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
11 February
Algeria deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
1997
December
The 52nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), adopted, without a vote, Resolution 52/46, introduced by Kenya introduced Resolution 52/46, calling on all States that had not done so to sign and ratify the Treaty of Pelindaba as soon as possible.
- The Resolution expressed appreciation to NWS that had signed the Protocols that concern them and called upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols to do so as soon as possible. The resolution also called upon those African States Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that had not yet concluded comprehensive safeguard agreements with the IAEA to so as soon as possible.
1996
5 November
The Russian Federation signs Protocols I and II.
16 October
Gambia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba.
24 April
Mauritius deposited its instrument of ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba
11 April
Cairo (Egypt)
The Treaty of Pelindaba opens for signature in Cairo, Egypt, to all States within the African continent. Forty-seven (47) African countries signed the Treaty on 11 April 1996.
11 April
Cairo (Egypt)
Protocols I & II of the Treaty of Pelindaba were also open for signature to NPT Nuclear Weapon States; while Protocol III is open for signature to States with De Jure or De Facto responsibility for territories belonging to the African Continent.
France signed Protocols I, II, and III; The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed Protocols I & II; China signed Protocols I & II; The United States of America signed Protocols I and II.
