Participants of the AFCONE 6th Conference of States Parties (CSP) held on 24–25 October 2024 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The 6th Ordinary Session of the Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) was held from 24 to 25 October 2024 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The session was convened in accordance with Article 12(2)(b) and Article 14(1) of the Treaty and in line with the CSP regulatory framework.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual participation. A total of 29 States Parties attended: Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Cape Verde, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Mali, Tunisia, Namibia, Comoros, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Nigeria, Morocco, Sahrawi Republic, Togo, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Congo.
The Central African Republic participated as an observer, while France, China, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation attended as States Parties to the Protocols of the Treaty. Other regional and international organizations also took part, including the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), and the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA).
The session opened with a welcome statement by Dr. Yau Idriss of Nigeria, Chairperson of the 5th CSP. The Conference subsequently elected the Bureau of the 6th CSP under the supervision of Prof. Hajer Gueldich Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission.
The Chairperson of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), Mr. Gaspard Liyoko Mboyo, reaffirmed the need for AFCONE to effectively carry out its mandate under the Treaty of Pelindaba. He underscored the importance of continued collaboration among Member States to promote peace, security, and the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology across Africa.
National statements were delivered by Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa, reaffirming States Parties’ commitment to the objectives of the Treaty and outlining national progress toward nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, nuclear safety and security, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Additional statements were delivered by the Secretary-General of OPANAL, who called for enhanced cooperation among nuclear-weapon-free zones, and by representatives of France, China, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation, who reiterated their governments’ full support for the Treaty of Pelindaba and its implementation.
The Chairperson of AFCONE, Mr. Liyoko Mboyo, briefed the Conference on the second day regarding institutional challenges recently faced by AFCONE, including misconduct by the former Executive Secretary. He informed delegates that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission had decided on the suspension and subsequent dismissal of the former official following an internal investigation. The CSP noted that all meetings convened by the former Executive Secretary were declared null and void.
The Chairperson of the 5th CSP, Dr. Yau Idriss, presented a report supporting the disciplinary measures taken and the appointment of an Interim Executive Secretary to ensure institutional stability and continuity.
The 6th CSP adopted a series of resolutions addressing institutional, financial, and administrative matters, including:
- Taking note of actions that disrupted AFCONE’s operations and resolving to take preventive measures to avoid recurrence; and
- Acknowledging the Republic of South Africa’s cooperation as Host Country and expressing appreciation for its continued support and commitment to the effective functioning of AFCONE.
The 6th Conference of States Parties concluded its deliberations on 25 October 2024 with the adoption of the session’s Conclusions and Resolutions, presented by Mr. John Adamu, Rapporteur of the CSP Bureau.
The States Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Treaty of Pelindaba, to strengthening AFCONE’s role in promoting the peaceful, safe, and secure use of nuclear science and technology in Africa, and to ensuring that the continent remains a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, in accordance with the objectives of the Treaty.