Nuclear-weapon-free state

Voted in favour of adopting TPNW

Has signed TPNW, but not ratified

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Congo has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Jean-Claude Gakosso, the minister for foreign affairs of Congo, signed the treaty on 20 September 2017. 

Congo participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and voted in favour of its adoption.

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Congo voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that welcomed the adoption of the treaty and called upon “all states that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve, or accede to the treaty at the earliest possible date”.

In 2016, Congo voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

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 negotiations.

Congo is a state party to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

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No local partner organisations

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Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Did not participate in TPNW negotiations

Has signed TPNW, but not yet ratified

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Comoros has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Azali Assoumali, the president of Comoros, signed the treaty on 20 September 2017. He said that Comoros joined other members of the international community in calling on nuclear-armed states “to abandon their nuclear weapons programmes”.

Comoros did not formally participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption.
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In a statement to the United Nations in October 2019, Comoros said that the treaty “represents an important step forward” and “plays an important role in strengthening global standards against the use, proliferation, and possession of nuclear weapons by any state”.

Comoros voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that welcomed the adoption of the treaty and called upon “all states that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve, or accede to the treaty at the earliest possible date”.

In 2016, Comoros voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”. However, it later informed the UN secretariat that it had intended to abstain from voting.

Comoros 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 negotiations.

Comoros is a state party to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

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Association SALAM

website

[LOCALSUPPORT]

Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Voted in favour of adopting TPNW

Has not yet joined TPNW

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Chad has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Chad participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and voted in favour of its adoption.[PARTNERS]
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In 2016, Chad voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Chad 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 negotiations.

Chad is a state party to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

[COLLAPSE_C]
[PARTNERS]

No local partner organisations

[LOCALSUPPORT]

Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Did not participate in TPNW negotiations

Has signed TPNW, but not yet ratified

[HIGHLIGHTS]

The Central African Republic has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Faustin Archange Touadera, the president of the CAR, signed the treaty when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017. The government announced in October 2018 that “the internal procedure for ratifying the [treaty] is in progress”.

The Central African Republic did not formally participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption.

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The CAR has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

In 2016, the CAR voted in the first committee of the UN General Assembly in favour of a draft resolution that ultimately established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

The CAR 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 negotiations.

The CAR is a signatory to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

[COLLAPSE_C]
[PARTNERS]

No local partner organisations

[LOCALSUPPORT]

Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Voted in favour of adopting TPNW

Has signed TPNW, but not yet ratified

[HIGHLIGHTS]

Cabo Verde has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Luis Filipe Lopes Tavares, the minister for foreign affairs of Cabo Verde, signed the treaty when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017. 

Cabo Verde participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and voted in favour of its adoption.

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Cabo Verde has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

In 2016, Cabo Verde was an additional co-sponsor of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Cabo Verde 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 negotiations.

Cabo Verde is a signatory to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

[COLLAPSE_C]
[PARTNERS]

No local partner organisations 

[LOCALSUPPORT]

Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Voted in favour of adopting TPNW

Has signed TPNW, but not yet ratified 

[HIGHLIGHTS]

Botswana has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Unity Dow, the minister for foreign affairs of Botswana, signed the treaty at a high-level ceremony on 26 September 2019. 

Botswana participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and voted in favour of its adoption.

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In a statement to the United Nations in October 2019, Botswana underscored “the significant role of the [treaty in] strengthening the global norms and practices against the use, proliferation, and possession of nuclear weapons by any country”.

Botswana has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

In 2016, Botswana voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Botswana 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 negotiations.

Botswana is a state party to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

[COLLAPSE_C]
[PARTNERS]

No local partner organisations 

[LOCALSUPPORT]

Get involved. Help get this country on board with the TPNW>

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in this country committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal or ICAN Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in this country.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Participated in TPNW negotiations

Signed TPNW, not ratified yet

[HIGHLIGHTS]

Algeria has signed but not yet ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Abdelkader Messahel, the minister for foreign affairs of Algeria signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 20 September 2017. The government announced in September 2019 that it “intends to ratify the [treaty] as soon as possible”.

Algeria participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and voted in favour of its adoption.

From 1961 to 1967, France conducted 17 nuclear test explosions in Algeria, leaving a legacy of environmental devastation and health problems.

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Algeria has hailed the treaty as “a significant asset conducive to the total elimination of nuclear weapons”.

Algeria has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Algeria said that this initiative is “the result of the dedication of all those who are convinced that we have to do something” and “do not want to continue betting on the unbearable risk of annihilating all humanity”.

In 2016, Algeria voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence the negotiations in 2017 on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Algeria 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 negotiations.

Algeria is a state party to the 1996 Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

Abdelkader Messahel, the minister for foreign affairs of Algeria signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 20 September 2017

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[PARTNERS]

No local partner organisations

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Get involved

There are currently no elected representatives or local or regional bodies in Afghanistan committed to supporting the TPNW through the ICAN Cities Appeal and Parliamentary Pledge. Find out what you can do to support the TPNW in Andorra. 

“Silencing the guns: creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development” is the theme of the African Union in 2020. The initiative was initially adopted in 2013 by the AU heads of state during the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU, with the vision ‘to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa, to make peace a reality for all our people and to rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts and to prevent genocide’.

In this document, ICAN calls on all African Union Member States to sign and ratify the TPNW at the earliest, as part of “Silencing the Guns”.

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Date: December 2019

This briefing paper (October 2019) shows how African countries are leading the way towards entry into force of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the crucial role they have to play to make it happen.