Africa Renounces Nukes

Treaty's Entry Into Force Makes Entire Southern Hemisphere Free of Nuclear Weapons

A Treaty making Africa into a zone free of nuclear weapons entered into force on 15 July 2009, in turn expanding the nuclear-weapon free territories to cover the entire Southern hemisphere. The Treaty of Pelindaba entered into force when Burundi deposited its instrument of ratification, becoming the 28th nation to do so. Over the last 13 years, all 53 African nations have signed the Treaty of Pelindaba.

The IAEA has issued the following statement:

"The Director General welcomes the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). The African NWFZ, similar to other nuclear weapon free zones in Latin America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, South Pacific and Central Asia, is an important regional confidence and security-building measure and would contribute to our efforts for a world free from nuclear weapons. More