Sao Tome and Principe
On 15 January 2024, São Tomé and Príncipe became the 70th State to ratify or accede to the TPNW. The Minister of Justice of São Tomé and Príncipe, IIza Amado Vaz, deposited the country’s instrument of ratification with the UN Secretary-General, following the unanimous approval of the Treaty by the National Assembly on 16 November 2023. She said that São Tomé and Príncipe would do its best ‘to participate actively in the process of this Treaty’.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2021) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| 1MSP 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) | Did not vote |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | No (Signed 1996, Pelindaba) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1983) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2022) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1979) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Acceded 2003) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (31 Mar 2023) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | 14 October 2025 |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In January 2023, São Tomé and Príncipe participated in an African regional seminar on universalisation of the TPNW in Pretoria, hosted by the South African foreign ministry.2
Recommendations
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Sao Tome and Principe should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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Sao Tome and Principe should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
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Sao Tome and Principe should ratify the Pelindaba NWFZ Treaty, which it signed in 1996.