Mauritius
Mauritius voted in favour of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in the UN negotiating conference in 2017 and has consistently voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2024.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | No | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1969) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | No | |
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1996, Pelindaba) | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1973) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2007) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1972) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1993) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Test | 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 | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2024) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | No |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | No |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | Yes (Modified) |
Latest developments
In October 2024, Mauritius and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement announcing that sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including the island of Diego Garcia, would be transferred from the United Kingdom back to Mauritius, subject to the finalisation of a treaty.1 However, it is envisaged that Mauritius would allow the United Kingdom to continue exercising control over Diego Garcia on its behalf for the next 99 years. The island includes a US air base that supports nuclear-capable bombers. However, with a change in government in Mauritius in November 2024, it is unclear whether the announcement remains valid. The new Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, said in December 2024 that ‘we do not agree with certain things contained in the agreement’ and his government had made a ‘counter-proposal’.2
The US air base on Diego Garcia does 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 were to secure full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, Mauritius 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
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Mauritius should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
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Mauritius should adhere to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).