The 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection   of Nuclear Materials (A / CPPNM) is the only international legal   agreement that requires countries to protect nuclear materials and   facilities in peaceful domestic use, storage and transport.  In March   2022, the IAEA will hold the Conference of the Parties to the   Amendment.

  The States parties to the treaty are in the midst of preparations to   review the A/CPPNM, as it is important for the participating countries to properly assess the adequacy of the treaty and share how they have been implementing it according to the prevailing situation.

For this purpose, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) organized a series of the workshop for Africa that began back in April of 2021. The second round of virtual meetings is scheduled for 29 November, 1 and 3 December 2021. ISTC participates in the meetings alongside with UNODC, AFCONE and other international organizations that are called upon to support African countries in their quest to develop realistic ways to review the A / CPPNM and consider how best to present their findings and observations in national statements at the review conference.

ISTC has accumulated considerable knowledge and understanding about the nuclear safety and security in the African context based on the implementation of EU-funded projects, such as the one entitled Support to the EU CoE in East and Central Africa in Nuclear Security.  or the SADC project on safety and security of the uranium ore transport. One of the African participant observed during the deliberations that “it was good to invite ISTC to this meeting, as they have done a good job in training SADC nuclear regulators. And we need to escalate to the next level of implementation, transportation and protection”.