The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation

The Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) is a voluntary, politically binding instrument designed to curb the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMD) through transparency and confidence-building measures. While 36 African states have subscribed as of August 2016, the document notes that the African Union has not yet made the HCoC a priority. The brief highlights the dual-use nature of missile technology, arguing that the HCoC allows African states to pursue peaceful space-launch activities and socio-economic development while signaling a commitment to global non-proliferation. It specifically examines the limited history of ballistic missile programs in Egypt, Libya, and South Africa, and recommends that the AU encourage further subscriptions and information sharing regarding civilian space activities.

• The HCoC is a 'soft law' instrument that supplements the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) by focusing on transparency and confidence-building rather than just trade restrictions.
• The HCoC employs three categories of measures: adherence to international space treaties, commitments to prevent WMD-capable missile proliferation through export controls and restraint, and voluntary annual declarations and pre-launch notifications.
• As of August 2016, 36 of the 54 African UN member states (67%) have subscribed to the HCoC, with the East African Community (EAC) achieving a 100% subscription rate.
• Algeria and Egypt are the only African UN member states that have systematically opposed HCoC resolutions, citing the code's limited scope, its lack of coverage of cruise missiles, and the restricted membership of the MTCR.
• Ballistic missile activity in Africa has been limited, with Egypt currently considered the only African state with an active program.
• The HCoC is relevant to Africa's growing space sector, as it allows states to develop peaceful space-launch capabilities for socio-economic benefits without contributing to WMD delivery systems.
• The African Union (AU) has historically prioritized other non-proliferation instruments, such as the NPT and CWC, over the HCoC, despite the AU's Common African Defence and Security Policy identifying ballistic missiles as external threats.

APA

Kasprzyk, N., Maitre, E., Pasco, X., & Stott, N. (2016). The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief90.pdf

Chicago

Kasprzyk, Nicolas, Emmanuelle Maitre, Xavier Pasco, and Noel Stott. The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. Institute for Security Studies, 2016. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief90.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kasprzyk |first1=Nicolas |last2=Maitre |first2=Emmanuelle |last3=Pasco |first3=Xavier |last4=Stott |first4=Noel |title=The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=September 2016 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief90.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kasprzyk2016hague, author = {Kasprzyk, Nicolas and Maitre, Emmanuelle and Pasco, Xavier and Stott, Noel}, title = {{The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief90.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }