Congo

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

SIGNED

20 September 2017

RATIFIED

17 May 2022

IN FORCE

15 August 2022

 

Status

The Republic of the Congo has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and has been legally bound by it since 15 August 2022.

 

Signature and ratification

Jean-Claude Gakosso, the minister of foreign affairs of the Congo, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.

The senate approved ratification of the TPNW on 1 December 2021 and the national assembly on 20 December 2021. The president of the national assembly, Isidore Mvouba, remarked that the TPNW “is worth its weight in gold” and a valuable contribution to international peace and security.

The Congo deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 17 May 2022, becoming the 61st state party.

Jean-Claude Gakosso, the minister of foreign affairs of the Congo, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: UNOLA

 

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, the Congo submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 24 August 2022 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.

Per Article 12, the Congo has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

The Congo attends a regional seminar on the universalisation of the TPNW in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2023. Photo: ICAN

 

Meetings of states parties

The Congo participated in the second meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2023, where it condemned the continued production of nuclear weapons and said that all efforts in the field of disarmament should revolve around “prohibition and elimination”.

“We find ourselves in a context marked by conflict and tension, which further heightens our legitimate fears about the potential use of nuclear weapons,” it said, adding that nuclear-armed states are ignoring “the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons for all humanity”.

 

TPNW negotiations

The Congo participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.

In 2016, the Congo voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

 

Before the negotiations

The Congo was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.

 

Further information

Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

[HIGHLIGHTS]

SIGNED

20 September 2017

RATIFIED

17 May 2022

IN FORCE

15 August 2022

 

Status

The Republic of the Congo has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and has been legally bound by it since 15 August 2022.

 

Signature and ratification

Jean-Claude Gakosso, the minister of foreign affairs of the Congo, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.

The senate approved ratification of the TPNW on 1 December 2021 and the national assembly on 20 December 2021. The president of the national assembly, Isidore Mvouba, remarked that the TPNW “is worth its weight in gold” and a valuable contribution to international peace and security.

The Congo deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 17 May 2022, becoming the 61st state party.

Jean-Claude Gakosso, the minister of foreign affairs of the Congo, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: UNOLA

 

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, the Congo submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 24 August 2022 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.

Per Article 12, the Congo has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

The Congo attends a regional seminar on the universalisation of the TPNW in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2023. Photo: ICAN

 

Meetings of states parties

The Congo participated in the second meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2023, where it condemned the continued production of nuclear weapons and said that all efforts in the field of disarmament should revolve around “prohibition and elimination”.

“We find ourselves in a context marked by conflict and tension, which further heightens our legitimate fears about the potential use of nuclear weapons,” it said, adding that nuclear-armed states are ignoring “the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons for all humanity”.

 

TPNW negotiations

The Congo participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.

In 2016, the Congo voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

 

Before the negotiations

The Congo was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.

 

Further information

Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor

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