Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, G.A. res. 48/86, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 97, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993).


The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its first ordinary session, held at Cairo from 17 to 21 July 1964, in which they solemnly declare their readiness to undertake, through an international agreement to be concluded under United Nations auspices, not to manufacture or acquire control of atomic weapons,

Recalling its resolutions 1652 (XVI) of 24 November 1961 and 47/76 of 15 December 1992, its earliest and latest on the subject, as well as all its previous resolutions on the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa,

Desirous of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of paragraphs 60 to 63 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,

Calling upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone,

Bearing in mind the provisions of resolutions CM/Res.1342 (LIV) and CM/Res.1395 (LVI) Rev.1 on the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its fifty-fourth and fifty-sixth ordinary sessions, held at Abuja from 27 May to 1 June 1991 and at Dakar from 22 to 28 June 1992, respectively,

Noting that the Government of South Africa acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 10 July 1991 and that it concluded a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which entered into force on 16 September 1991, and committed itself to early and full implementation of that agreement,

Noting also the announcement by South Africa that it had voluntarily abandoned its nuclear deterrent capability before accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and its standing invitation to the Agency to inspect past nuclear-weapon-programme activities and facilities and to verify its disclosure,

Recalling resolution GC(XXXVII)/RES/625 on an African nuclear-weapon-free zone, adopted on 1 October 1993 by the General Conference of the Agency,

Stressing that the full disclosure of South Africa's nuclear installations and materials is essential to the peace and security of the region and to the success of the commendable efforts exerted by the African States towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa,

Welcoming the progress made at the Third Meeting of the Group of Experts to Draw up a Draft Treaty or Convention on the Denuclearization of Africa, which was organized by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity and held at Harare from 5 to 8 April 1993,

1. Takes note of the report of the Third Meeting of the Group of Experts to Draw up a Draft Treaty or Convention on the Denuclearization of Africa;

2. Reaffirms that the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity would be an important measure to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security;

3. Strongly renews its call upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone;

4. Takes note of the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Agency's verification activities in South Africa;

5. Calls upon South Africa to continue to comply fully with the implementation of its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency;

6. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which he has rendered effective assistance to the Organization of African Unity in organizing the meetings of the above-mentioned Group of Experts;

7. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, to take appropriate action to enable the Group of Experts designated by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity to meet during 1994 at Windhoek and Addis Ababa, in order to finalize the drafting of a treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, and to submit the text of the treaty to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session under an agenda item entitled "Final text of a treaty on an African nuclear-weapon-free zone";

8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the progress made by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in ensuring the full implementation of the safeguards agreement with South Africa.

81st plenary meeting
16 December 1993


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