UPLIFTING NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS IN AFRICA – DESCRIPTION OF
PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT TO AFCONE BY THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION, REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND STUK.

The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (African NWFZ) Treaty (the Pelindaba Treaty) was opened for signature in Cairo, Egypt, on 11 April 1996, and entered into force on 15 July 2009. Under the Pelindaba Treaty, each State Party undertakes to conduct all activities for the peaceful use of nuclear energy under strict nonproliferation measures. The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) is the executive body of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty. It is the specialized agency for nuclear activities on the African continent under the framework of the African Union and has its headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. The European Union, Finland and AFCONE have initiated a 5-year programme to strengthen International Nuclear Safeguards in Africa, build capacity in Pelindaba Treaty States Parties, and enable the States to fulfil their obligations in accordance with the Pelindaba Treaty, Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols. In practice, this programme will develop and expand capacity to support IAEA inspection activities, improve reporting under Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements, Additional Protocols, and the Treaty of Pelindaba. AFCONE is a young organisation that established its Secretariat recently in 2018. The programme will also support AFCONE to leverage its wide mandate, and to stand as a strong regional organization, supporting its States Parties in effective IAEA safeguards implementation. Programme preparation started in early 2022, and took into account experiences from previous capacity building activities carried out by other organisations. The first training event under the programme took place in Pelindaba, South Africa from 8 – 11 May 2023. The programme is funded by the European Commission and Finland and managed by STUK, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety authority of Finland, based on the fact that Finland, which has a long tradition on nonproliferation and from STUK has long experience and expertise in implementing IAEA safeguards..