The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty: An African Perspective

Hiroshima, Japan: People take part in an anti-nuclear power protest on the 66th anniversary of the 
Hiroshima atomic bombing on August 6, 2011 in Hiroshima. Image: Getty, Kiyoshi Ota
Hiroshima, Japan: People take part in an anti-nuclear power protest on the 66th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on August 6, 2011 in Hiroshima. Image: Getty, Kiyoshi Ota

This policy insight examines the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, also known as the Ban Treaty) from an African perspective.

Summary:

  • The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) reached the required threshold of 50 ratifications and entered into force on 22 January 2021. 
  • This represents an important milestone in global nuclear disarmament, as well as for African states that oppose the proliferation of nuclear weapons and are in favour of having the option of using nuclear energy for peaceful developmental means.
  • However, the treaty’s entry into force does not solve the global threat posed by nuclear weapons, given that many states, including the US, France, the UK, Russia and China, remain outside it, as non-signatory states.
  • Currently, 29 African states have signed the treaty but only nine have ratified it.
  • While African support for the treaty reconfirms the continent’s commitment to a nuclear weapon-free world, more countries need to sign and ratify it.
  • This policy insights proposes extending and enhancing the role and mandate of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) to take responsibility for all of the continent’s disarmament affairs.
The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).