The Importance of International Cooperation for Full Implementation the Palindaba Treaty and the International Safeguards Regime in Africa

The Palindaba Treaty which aims to create a nuclear weapon free zone (NWFZ) in Africa entered into force, since July 2009. The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) was created to ensure the application of the treaty's provisions and to develop nuclear sciences and applications in the region. In this context consisting also of political statements of ma ny countries wishing to embark on nuclear power programs and contrasting with a real lack of human Resources in most nuclear application fields, including those related to safeguards and verification regime skills., the partnership of IAEA may play key roles at different levels. The IAEA cooperation on induction and sensitization and support to train critical number of advisers, managers and specialists in government, industry, operators and regulatory bodies and technical support experts is a key point to help countries to comply with international tools on safeguards for such programs and to provide with the regional legal instruments the necessary human resources. In that regard the involvement of the IAEA to support countries to be able meet the safeguards obligations associated with the introduction of nuclear power and related activities to be handled by the NPP owner/operator during phases of project development for introducing or expanding nuclear power programs is necessary at many stages. (author)