The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty

The Treaty of Pelindaba establishes Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, prohibiting the research, development, stationing, and testing of nuclear explosive devices. Entered into force on 15 July 2009, the treaty requires parties to renounce nuclear weapons, prohibit the dumping of radioactive waste, and maintain high security standards for nuclear facilities. Compliance is managed by the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and verification of peaceful nuclear activities is conducted through comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The treaty includes three protocols to ensure the cooperation of nuclear-weapon states and those controlling territories within the zone.

• The Treaty of Pelindaba officially entered into force on 15 July 2009, following the deposit of the twenty-eighth instrument of ratification by Burundi.
• The treaty establishes a comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons within the zone, specifically prohibiting the research, development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, possession, and testing of nuclear explosive devices.
• State parties are prohibited from allowing the stationing of nuclear explosive devices in their territory, although they retain the sovereign right to decide on the transit of foreign ships and aircraft.
• The treaty prohibits the dumping of radioactive waste and other radioactive matter within the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and encourages the use of the Bamako Convention as a guideline.
• To ensure the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy, parties must conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) is established as the primary mechanism for compliance, responsible for collating reports, arranging consultations, and reviewing IAEA safeguards.
• Three protocols are attached to the treaty to bind non-state parties: Protocol I and II target Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) regarding the use and testing of weapons, while Protocol III targets states with de jure or de facto control of territories in the zone, specifically France and Spain.
• As of 1 March 2010, all 53 members of the African Union had signed the treaty, but only 29 countries had deposited their instruments of ratification.

APA

Stott, N., du Rand, A., & du Preez, J. (2010). The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2008-PelindabaGuideENG.PDF

Chicago

Stott, Noel, Amelia du Rand, and Jean du Preez. The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. Institute for Security Studies, 2010. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2008-PelindabaGuideENG.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stott |first1=Noel |last2=du Rand |first2=Amelia |last3=du Preez |first3=Jean |title=The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=March 2010 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2008-PelindabaGuideENG.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stott2010african, author = {Stott, Noel and du Rand, Amelia and du Preez, Jean}, title = {{The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2010}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2008-PelindabaGuideENG.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }