Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is an example to be followed by other States, as it has adhered to all of the seven key treaties in the legal architecture on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in addition to being party to a nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ) treaty.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | Yes (Ratified 2022) | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1970) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2004, Annex 2 state) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 2022, Pelindaba) | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1972) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2003) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1975) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 2005) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| Test | 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 | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | Yes |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes (observer) |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | 8.67 (34%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Did not vote |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | Yes |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | No |
Latest developments
At the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in March 2025, DR Congo described the Treaty as ‘a new chapter in the history of nuclear disarmament’ aimed at halting the ‘terrifying and growing trend’ towards the proliferation of nuclear weapons.1
It reaffirmed its commitment to the prohibition of nuclear weapons and noted the ‘leading role’ of African States in the negotiation and adoption of the TPNW in 2017. ‘African States should step up their efforts in the process of universalizing the TPNW,’ it said, noting that any use of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world would have ‘grave repercussions’ for Africa.
At a high-level event on 26 September 2025 marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, DR Congo called upon all UN member States ‘to intensify their efforts to strengthen mutual trust, defuse tensions, and work towards a world without nuclear weapons’.2
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2025, DR Congo welcomed ‘the growing global support’ for the TPNW and called on all States to participate in the First Review Conference for the Treaty in 2026. It also encouraged States not party to the Treaty ‘to join it in order to accelerate the process of its universalization’.3
DR Congo co-sponsored the 2025 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which welcomed the Treaty’s entry into force and 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’.4
Recommendations
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DR Congo should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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DR Congo should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.