'Keep calm and carry on': an initial African assessment of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) 2010 Review Conference

States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) adopted a final document at its 8th Review Conference in 2010. This paper review that document from an African perspective.

The paper points that it is important that an African perspective be presented given the July 2009 entry-into-force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, which has many common features with the NPT and has created the world’s largest nuclear-weapon-free zone.

The author figures that the 2010 NPT Final Document is a significant achievement in maintaining the ambitious vision to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the NPT. Nonetheless, the step-by-step approach to disarmament remains, in both perception and practice, a pretext for maintaining the status quo.

However, making use of the opportunity, the Africa Group once again called upon the nuclear weapon states and the other remaining state that have not done so, to ratify the treaty protocols unconditionally and without further delay. Another key issue for African states is the need for greater technical assistance by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Furthermore, the final document reaffirms non-nuclear weapon states’ inalienable right to pursue their national choices in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear. Nevertheless, most importantly for Africa, the final document stipulates that developing states should be given preferential treatment in this area.

Overall, the paper finds that the text at least opens the door to build on the momentum created by the signs described above. However, the success of the document will ultimately be measured by states parties’ commitment to implementing the action plan.