To infinity and beyond: Africa’s role in shaping the international nuclear security agenda

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of African states in the international nuclear security agenda, specifically in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit process and the 2013 IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security. It argues for increased African engagement and cooperation to balance the peaceful use of nuclear technology with security requirements.

• The Nuclear Security Summit process, while driving the international agenda, has been limited by its US-led origins, a restricted number of invitees, and the fact that its outcome documents do not legally obligate participating states to implement commitments.
• The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul focused on 11 specific actions, including the global reduction of highly enriched uranium (HEU), management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and the goal of bringing the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) into force by 2014.
• The IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security in July 2013 is positioned as a critical event for shaping the IAEA's 2014–2017 Nuclear Security Plan, which will serve as a road map for countries to improve their nuclear security.
• African participation in global nuclear security debates has been historically marginal, yet the need for engagement is increasing as over 30 African states explore uranium and nearly half of the continent's states seek to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
• African states have demonstrated commitment to nuclear security through various actions: South Africa returned 6.3kg of US-source highly enriched uranium in 2011, and several states including Lesotho, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria have acceded to or ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
• Regional cooperation in Africa is facilitated by the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), which ensures compliance with the Treaty of Pelindaba, and the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), which monitors the peaceful use of radioactive materials.
• The brief recommends that the six African states that attended the 2012 Seoul Summit collaborate with other African nations to develop a unified 'African perspective' on nuclear safety and security for future international conferences and summits.

APA

Broodryk, A., & Edge, S. (2013). To infinity and beyond: Africa’s role in shaping the international nuclear security agenda. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolBrief40.pdf

Chicago

Broodryk, Amelia, and Shaun Edge. To infinity and beyond: Africa’s role in shaping the international nuclear security agenda. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolBrief40.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Broodryk |first1=Amelia |last2=Edge |first2=Shaun |title=To infinity and beyond: Africa’s role in shaping the international nuclear security agenda |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=3 April 2013 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolBrief40.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{broodryk2013infinity, author = {Broodryk, Amelia and Edge, Shaun}, title = {{To infinity and beyond: Africa’s role in shaping the international nuclear security agenda}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolBrief40.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }