handbooks-2011-nuclearpelindaba-f79a90ede8787eb9.pdf

This guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies in March 2011, outlines the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). It details the treaty's objectives to ensure Africa remains free of nuclear weapons, the legal procedures for state ratification and accession, the roles of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the status of protocols involving non-African nuclear-weapon states.

• The Treaty of Pelindaba establishes the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (ANWFZ), which encompasses the entire African continent and various associated islands. The treaty aims to ensure that nuclear weapons are not "developed, produced, tested, or otherwise acquired or stationed" within these territories.
• The treaty officially entered into force on 15 July 2009, following the deposit of the 28th instrument of ratification by Burundi. As of 1 March 2011, all 53 members of the African Union had signed the treaty, though only 31 had deposited instruments of ratification.
• State parties to the treaty commit to several prohibitions and obligations, including the renunciation of nuclear explosive devices, the prohibition of testing such devices, and the ban on dumping radioactive wastes within the zone. They are also required to maintain high security standards for nuclear materials to prevent theft or unauthorized use.
• The treaty allows for the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology for economic and social development. To verify these peaceful uses, parties must conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• Three protocols are attached to the treaty to engage non-African states: Protocol I prohibits nuclear-weapon states (NWS) from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against the zone; Protocol II prohibits NWS from assisting in or encouraging nuclear testing in the zone; and Protocol III requires states with territories in the zone (France and Spain) to apply treaty principles to those territories.
• The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) was established as the mechanism for ensuring treaty compliance. Its responsibilities include collating reports, reviewing IAEA safeguards, and promoting international cooperation for peaceful nuclear uses. Its headquarters are located in South Africa.
• The Russian Federation ratified the relevant protocols on 11 March 2011, but did so with reservations. These reservations state that Russia does not assume the obligation not to use nuclear weapons against states in the zone if those states have allied commitments to other nuclear states or are part of coalitions against Russia, and that the treaty does not apply to the U.S. base at Diego Garcia.
• The First Conference of State Parties took place in Addis Ababa on 4 November 2010. During this conference, 12 countries were elected to designate Commissioners for AFCONE: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). handbooks-2011-nuclearpelindaba-f79a90ede8787eb9.pdf. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2011-NuclearPelindaba.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. handbooks-2011-nuclearpelindaba-f79a90ede8787eb9.pdf. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2011-NuclearPelindaba.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=handbooks-2011-nuclearpelindaba-f79a90ede8787eb9.pdf |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2011-NuclearPelindaba.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndhandbooks2011nuclearpelindabaf79a90ede8787eb9pdf, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{handbooks-2011-nuclearpelindaba-f79a90ede8787eb9.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-2011-NuclearPelindaba.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }