African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
Treaty (ANWFZ) (Treaty of Pelindaba)
OFFICE IN SOUTH AFRICA
None: The Headquarters of the African Commission
on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), as envisaged by the
Treaty, is to be situated in South Africa once the
Treaty enters into force.
HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS
The Declaration on the Denuclearisation of Africa
adopted by the Summit of the Organization of African
Unity in 1964 formed the basis for work towards
the conclusion of the African Nuclear Weapons Free
Zone Treaty opened for signature at Cairo, Egypt
on 11 April 1996. At this Summit, African States
declared their readiness to undertake, through an
international agreement to be concluded under United
Nations auspices, not to manufacture or acquire
control of nuclear weapons.
The African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty was
approved in June 1995 by the 31st Ordinary Session
of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government
held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it was subsequently
endorsed by the 50th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly. The Treaty declares Africa a zone
free of nuclear weapons, thus constituting an important
step towards the strengthening of the non-proliferation
regime, the promotion of co-operation in the peaceful
uses of nuclear energy, general and complete disarmament
and the enhancement of regional and international
peace and security. Unlike many nuclear –weapon-
free -zone regimes of the Cold-War era, this Treaty
distinguishes itself because of its wide scope.
The African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty is
also known as the "Pelindaba Treaty",
as it was adopted at Pelindaba, site of the then
Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) of South Africa
on 2 June 1995. The name "Pelindaba" was
particularly appropriate when the draft was adopted
as the name originates from the Zulu words "iphelile
indaba", which roughly translates into "the
matter/ discussion is closed/settled". The
headquarters of the African Commission on Nuclear
Energy (AFCONE), as envisaged by the Treaty, is
to be situated in South Africa.
The relevant Protocols to the Pelindaba Treaty
have been signed by all the nuclear-weapon-states,
and the Treaty will enter into force upon the date
of the deposit of the twenty-eighth Instrument of
Ratification.
Inspite of its good intention and wide scope, as
of 31 December 1999, only eleven African countries
(Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ivory
Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, South Africa,
Tanzania and Zimbabwe) had ratified the Treaty and
thirty-nine countries had signed it. This lack of
ratification of the Treaty continues to be a cause
of concern to South Africa. In an effort to rectify
this situation, South Africa together with other
interested countries within the United Nations,
has participated in drafting a bi-annual resolution
in the First Committee (Disarmament) on the Pelindaba
Treaty which inter-alia calls on the African countries
to sign and /or ratify the Treaty.
The Secretary General of the Organisation of African
Unity is the depository of the Pelindaba Treaty.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS
• South African Nuclear Energy Corporation
of South Africa (NECSA) that was previously known
as the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC)
RELEVANT TREATIES AND PROTOCOLS
In terms of the Protocols to the Treaty, the Nuclear
Weapon States should, inter alia, undertake not
to use or threaten to use a nuclear explosive device
against Parties to the Treaty (Protocol I), and
not to test any nuclear explosive devices within
the African nuclear weapon-free zone (Protocol II).
Protocol III of the Treaty was open for signature
by France and Spain, as non-African countries that
are "de jure" or "de facto"
internationally responsible for a territory within
the African nuclear weapon-free zone. Spain has
yet to sign the Protocol.
