ISS Today: Making progress: implementing UNSCR 1540 in Africa

Ten years ago, on 28 April 2004, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted resolution 1540, requiring governments to prevent armed, non-state actors from acquiring, proliferating and using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Commenting on the anniversary of the resolution, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to states and other key actors to ‘intensify their efforts to stop the proliferation of these devastating weapons.’ Ban also said that the use of poison gas in Syria was ‘an alarming reminder of the continuing threat of weapons of mass destruction.’

ISS Today: Syria: Seizing the international moment

Noel Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria

As Russia, the United States (US) and Syria edge closer to a final agreement and a possible United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution
on how best to deal with the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, it may be wise to step back and consider the enormous potential that a more holistic approach could provide. Such an approach could fundamentally alter the current global discourse on weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

ISS TODAY: Africa's silence on Syria is a missed opportunity to exert regional influence

Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Africa's Development and the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Project, ISS Pretoria

The relative silence by the African Union (AU) and its member states on allegations that the Syrian government or one of the various opposition groups have been using chemical weapons in the war that is gripping that country, represents another missed opportunity in the continent’s quest to exert itself as an important player in international diplomacy. This is particularly true with regard to disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

While the findings of the United Nations (UN) inspection team – whose mandate stems from procedures provided under the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons – are yet to be announced, it seems clear that chemical weapons were indeed used in the Syrian conflict. Exactly what type of chemicals, or indeed by whom, is still to be determined. A team consisting of nine experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and three from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is investigating the former. Environmental and biological samples are presently undergoing laboratory analysis and technical evaluation. Although efforts are being made to expedite this process, their report to the UN Secretary General may only be made public in three to four weeks – this despite the insistence of the UK’s Prime Minister and the United States (US) and French presidents that the Syrian regime was responsible and that a ‘punitive’ military response is urgently needed.

ISS Today: Progress on a Chemical Weapons-free World

Amelia Broodryk, Researcher, Arms Management Programme, ISS Pretoria Office - 29 November 2011

From 28 November to 3 December, States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction or Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) will meet for the 16th annual Conference of States Parties (CSP) in The Hague. The CWC was adopted in 1992 and is the only convention in the world today that eliminates an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.

African participation in the CWC is high, with 50 States Parties representing the continent and only three states (Angola, Egypt and Somalia) that are still non-signatories. The high level of participation can be attributed to the active involvement of the Convention’s implementation body, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the formation of the ‘African Group’. The OPCW Technical Secretariat engages with African States Parties through its Programme for Africa, which focuses on promoting economic, scientific, and technological development through its various projects, particularly in the field of international co-operation. The future of the Africa Programme has been included as a main agenda item for the 2011 CSP.

Le CNT adopte une loi interdisant les armes chimiques en Guinée (Guinea Approves Chemical Weapons Law)

Le conseil national de transition a adopté ce vendredi en séance plénière la loi portant interdiction de la mise au point, de la fabrication, du stockage et de l’emploi des armes chimiques et sur leur destruction.

Cette loi interdit l’emploi d’agents de lutte-émeute comme moyen de guerre, les préparatifs militaires en vue d’emploi d’armes chimiques. Elle réglemente l’importation, l’exportation, la fabrication, le commerce et l’emploi de certains produits chimiques.

Déjà depuis le 2 mai 1997, la Guinée avait signé un accord avec l’organisation pour l’interdiction des armes chimiques(OACI). De nos jours, 194 Etats ont signé cette convention, selon le ministère des Affaires étrangères.

Il revenait donc à la Guinée, de prendre une loi locale adaptée à cette convention et d’accorder à l’OACI la capacité juridique, les privilèges et immunités qui lui sont nécessaires pour exercer ses fonctions. C’est ce que le CNT fit ce vendredi.

Source: http://www.guineenews.org/articles/detail_article.asp?num=2011111994231 

Amadou Tham Camara

Guinea Approves Chemical Weapons Law

The government of Guinea on Friday approved legislation prohibiting the production, holding and employment of chemical weapons in the African state, Guineenews reported (see GSN, Aug. 11, 2006).

The move by the Guinean National Transition Council is in keeping with the nation's obligations as a member of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The law also addresses trade, production and usage of certain chemical materials (Guineenews, Nov. 19).

Source: http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20111122_6164.php

4th OPCW Basic Course for African National Authorities Held in Ethiopia

The National Authority of Ethiopia and the OPCW jointly organised a basic course for personnel of National Authorities in Africa who are involved in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The course was held in Addis Ababa from 5 to 9 September 2011 and attended by 29 participants from 25 States Parties*.

This year’s Basic Course was the fourth to be held by the OPCW for the Africa region and was organised under the auspices of the OPCW Programme to Strengthen Cooperation with Africa (“Africa Programme”). The aim is to enhance the capacity of participating National Authorities to implement the CWC and to promote closer cooperation between National Authorities at the regional and sub-regional levels.

“I firmly believe that this training course will improve the work of National Authorities for the effective implementation of the Convention,” stated the Hon. Ato Tadesse Haile, State Minister for Industry at the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry, in opening remarks delivered on his behalf. He commended the OPCW Technical Secretariat for the support it provides through programmes “which are directly relevant to our needs and priorities.” and stressed that the Basic Course helps to enhance the capacity of member states to implement the Convention.

The course covered the history of the development and use of chemical weapons; an overview of the CWC and the OPCW; the rights and obligations of States Parties; the establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities; the declarations and verification regimes of the CWC; the transfer provisions relating to import and export of Scheduled Chemicals; and the OPCW’s international cooperation and assistance programmes including promotion of the peaceful uses of chemistry.

It also offered an opportunity for bilateral consultations between the participants and Technical Secretariat staff, and for participants to share updates on the progress made and challenges encountered by their National Authorities in implementing the Convention.

* Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Source: http://www.opcw.org/news/article/4th-opcw-basic-course-for-african-national-authorities-held-in-ethiopia/

Libyan Regime Collapse Raises Fears About Chemical Stockpile Security

The collapse of the Qadhafi regime has renewed concerns about the status of Libya's small stockpile of chemical warfare materials, Reuters reported on Monday (see GSN, July 26).

Libyan opposition forces in recent days have gained control over much of the capital city of Tripoli; fighting continues and Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi and other key regime figures remain at large. It is not yet apparent who will ultimately come to control the North African nation.

Read the full article HERE

Source: Global Security Newswire

9th Regional Meeting of African National Authorities Held in Ghana

The Government of the Republic of Ghana and the OPCW co-hosted the meeting from 26 to 28 July 2011 in Accra, with 60 participants from 27 States Parties* present together with a representative of the African Union (AU) Commission.

In her opening statement Ms. Sherry Ayittey, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and Chairperson of the National Authority of Ghana, challenged the participants to “seize the opportunity to find common solutions to existing and emerging challenges they are confronted with in their respective jurisdictions.”

H.E. Mrs Grace Asirwatham, Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, noted several positive developments on the African continent in recent years. She said many States Parties in the region have demonstrated a new commitment and revived their efforts to ensure the speedy adoption of national implementing legislation and other obligations – a development partly spurred on, she added, by the OPCW’s Programme to Strengthen Cooperation with Africa. The Programme was launched in 2007, and due to the progress made it has been extended for an additional 3-year period.

In a statement read on its behalf, the AU Commission noted that unlike other forms of weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons can be more easily produced and are of particular risk in the hands of terrorists. Ensuring their complete elimination therefore requires concerted action at the national, regional, continental and global levels. The Commission welcomed further engagement with the OPCW in line with the AU’s firm commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

In addition to discussing issues related to implementation of the Convention in the region, the meeting serves as a forum for States Parties to exchange information, present their needs for assistance, and indicate which forms of assistance they can offer to other States Parties.

* Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

OPCW Council Worried About Libyan Chemical Arsenal

Source: OPCW website

The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons last week voiced worries about the protections surrounding a cache of Libyan mustard blister agent and about Tripoli's plans to destroy the material as previously promised (see GSN, May 4).

"I have reminded the Libyan government of its international obligation to meet its destruction deadlines, and I have also reiterated to the [Libyan] National Authority that the responsibility for the physical security of those chemical weapons rests entirely with the Libyan Government," OPCW chief Ahmet Üzümcü said in opening remarks for last week's session of the 41-state council.

Libya is thought to have eliminated more than half of its chemical stockpile, leaving some 9.5 metric tons of mustard agent and a quantity of precursor materials that have yet to be destroyed as mandated by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Executive Council gave its "full support for the actions being undertaken by the director general in view of the situation, and encouraged him to continue his efforts," according to an OPCW press release.

The organization added: "The Executive Council, while noting the assurances given by the Libyan representative, urged Libya to ensure the security of the chemical weapons stockpiles and their destruction within the established deadlines."

Tripoli is required to complete destruction of the mustard stock by May 15 and to finish off the precursor material by December 31.

International observers and Libyan rebel leaders have expressed concern that embattled dictator Muammar Qadhafi might try to use the blister agent against opposition forces. Thousands of empty aerial munitions were previously destroyed, seemingly eliminating the regime's ability to mount a chemical air attack (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons release, May 6).

Source: http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110509_9563.php