Mauritius
It is believed that the question of whether Mauritius will adhere to the TPNW was still under consideration in the government in 2021. Mauritius voted in favour of the adoption of the TPNW in the UN Diplomatic Meeting in 2017 and has consistently voted in favor of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2021.
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Test | Compatible | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| (d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compatible |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| 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 | 20% |
| 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 | Yes (Modified) |
| 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 | No |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Pelindaba) |
| Member of the CD | No |
Latest developments
Speaking in 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 Prime Minister of Mauritius, Alan Ganoo, noted the entry into force of the TPNW and described the Treaty as 'among the outstanding achievements of the United Nations'.1
Mauritius maintains policies and practices that are compatible with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the TPNW, and can therefore sign and ratify or accede to the Treaty without the need for a change in conduct.
ICAN's partner organizations met with the then Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravin Kumar Jugnauth, on 27 August 2020 to discuss the TPNW.2 He noted the problem of the colonial administration of the Chagos Islands by the United Kingdom and Mauritius' lack of control over this archipelago, which includes a US air base on Diego Garcia. This dispute over sovereignty of part of Mauritian territory would not prevent Mauritius from adhering to the TPNW, however. Without effective control of the Chagos Islands, Mauritius is precluded from being able to implement the TPNW across those territories. If it secures full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, it would need to seek the removal of any unlawful weapons and prohibit any unlawful activities by any States not party to the TPNW on that territory.
Recommendations
- Mauritius should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
- Mauritius should also sign and ratify the CTBT.