The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has urged African countries to adhere to the nuclear weapon testing ban agreement to ensure safety and security on the continent.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral agreement that opened for signature in September 1996 and has since been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178 to prohibit any nuclear weapon test anywhere in the world by anyone.

CTBTO executive secretary Robert Floyd spoke at opening the two-day regional workshop organised by the organisation for African States Signatories in Banjul, The Gambia. The workshop was held from May 31 to June 1.

He said that although 52 African states signed the treaty and enjoyed CTBTO membership, 50 ratified it.

Mr Floyd, therefore, implored countries yet to ratify the CTBT to do so in order to achieve desired goals, saying, “Two of them, Somalia and South Sudan, are very close.’’

He said that before 1996, there were more than 2,000 confirmed nuclear tests; some were conducted in Africa, but none were conducted by an African country.

“Radioactive traces from all nuclear tests, particularly atmospheric tests, carried out some decades ago impacted the world negatively and are still traced in African elephants’ tusks.

“Right now, Africa’s 35 International Monitoring System (IMS) stations are listening to the earth’s crust rumbling and groaning, as well as streaming their data to Vienna.

“The signing of the CTBT just under 28 years ago has yielded a landmark achievement: Africa played a vital role in building consensus and getting the treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York.

“Therefore, the complete adherence by African countries to the CTBT will ensure the full realisation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa,” he said.

Dawda Jallow, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of The Gambia, commended CTBTO for organising the workshop at a time of global tension and conflict.

“The challenges we face today require collective efforts through dialogue and diplomacy with relevant support for the CTBT.

“The CTBT’s primary aim is to prevent nuclear testing and benefit civil and scientific applications.

“The verification regime established by the CTBT offers valuable data and tools that can be utilised for climate change research, disaster prevention, and tsunami warning.

“These capabilities provide additional benefits to countries like The Gambia and also have the potential to generate positive outcomes across various sectors of the economy,” he said.

Oumar Touray, president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), described the workshop as apt, coming when Africans needed to partner to tackle the security situation.

Mr Touray, represented by Claude Kondor, political advisor to the resident representative of the ECOWAS Commission in The Gambia, said the workshop had become important to unite African countries towards achieving a shared future.

“This workshop is a testament to our shared dedication towards achieving sustainable peace and cooperation in Africa and beyond,” he said.

(NAN)