Botswana
Botswana was one of the co-sponsors of the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called 'upon all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date'.[1]
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| 2021 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2019 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| 2018 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations | Yes |
| Share of women in TPNW negotiations | 25% |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards Agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (mil/civ) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Pelindaba) |
| Member of the CD | No |
Latest developments
In a statement to the 2021 UN General Assembly's High-Level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the Defence Minister of Botswana, Thomas Kagiso Mmusi, described the TPNW as 'a necessary foundation as well as a stimulus for future further steps towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons'.2
In the First Committee of the 2021 UN General Assembly, Botswana said: 'Botswana welcomes the entry into force of the TPNW, which is a clear commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and to multilateral disarmament. We further encourage those member states who have not yet signed and ratified to do so without further delay.'3
Botswana ratified the TPNW on the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the African NWFZ. In a statement on the occasion, Botswana called on 'all other peace-loving nations to collectively join hands and contribute to this noble endeavor for the prohibition of all nuclear weapons.'4
Recommendations
- Botswana should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- Botswana should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.