The African Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Treaty entered into force after the pact was ratified last month by Burundi, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported yesterday (see GSN, March 27).
The 13-year-old document bans the development, acquisition, production, or possession of any nuclear explosive device on the African continent or its surrounding islands.
It required ratification by 28 nations before entering into force. Burundi on July 15 became the 28th African state to ratify the treaty, also referred to as the Treaty of Pelindaba, the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies announced.
“Entry into force of the Treaty of Pelindaba confirms Africa’s resolve to strengthen the global nuclear weapon-free regime and contribute to international nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation processes,” the organization stated.
South Africa is the only African nation to have produced nuclear weapons, which it eliminated on a voluntary basis in the 1990s.
The agreement supports the development of civilian nuclear energy capabilities “under strict nonproliferation measures,” according to the release.
The treaty has not yet been ratified by 24 of its signatory nations (Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Earth Times, Aug. 12).
“The declaration of Africa as a nuclear weapon-free zone (NWFZ) means that the entire southern hemisphere is now nuclear weapons free,” according to the ISS statement.
The organization noted that nuclear powers China, France and the United Kingdom had signed protocols pledging to respect the African zone and its counterparts in other regions. Russia and the United States have not yet signed off on such agreements (Institute for Security Studies release, Aug. 12).