Rwanda
In December 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda advised that it is undergoing consultations with relevant national authorities on the question of Rwanda's signature and ratification of the TPNW.[1]
| 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 | Voted yes |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| 2019 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Abstained |
| 2018 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations | No |
| Share of women in TPNW negotiations | N/A |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | N/A |
| 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 | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Pelindaba) |
| Member of the CD | No |
Latest developments
Rwanda 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.
Rwanda did not participate in the TPNW negotiations in 2017 but voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty in 2018, 2020, and 2021.
In the First Committee of the 2021 UN General Assembly, Rwanda associated itself with a statement by the African Group which said: 'Given the slow progress and frustration that has characterized nuclear disarmament for so many years, the TPNW marks a watershed in the drive to rid the world of nuclear weapons. [...] It is our hope that the nuclear weapon states and those under the so-called nuclear umbrella would seize this opportunity to sign and ratify the treaty as well as pursue the goal of a nuclear weapon free world'.2
Recommendations
- Rwanda should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
1) Report from ICAN's partner organization in Rwanda, Association des Jeunes de Saint Charles Lwanga (AJECL), 7 December 2021