Seychelles
When the Seychelles' National Assembly approved a motion to ratifiy the TPNW on 30 June 2021, the Leader of Government Business, Bernard Georges, said: 'Seychelles has always been vulnerable to nuclear weapons. Ever since the island of Diego Garcia became a military base, Seychelles has been at the centre of nuclear weapons and, with numerous other military bases being set up in the region, we are surrounded by a nuclear presence.'[1]
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 | |
|---|---|
| 2021 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Did not vote |
| 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 | No data available |
| 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 | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Pelindaba) |
| Member of the CD | No |
Latest developments
The chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Waven William, said that Seychelles also had rallied to get other countries to ratify this treaty as soon as possible.2
In the 2021 UN General Assembly, Seychelles associated itself with a statement on the First Commitee 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 pursuit the goal of a nuclear weapon free world'.3
Recommendations
- The Seychelles should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- The Seychelles should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.