Africa too is at risk of WMD

By Isabella Gyau Orhin

The United Nations Under Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Mr. Nobuaki Tanaka has said that no country however small or remote can consider itself totally immune from the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or from having its territory exploited by terrorists.
He said although some have said that WMD is not a problem in Africa but small arms,
there lies the real risk of proliferation of WMD even in the African continent.


Speaking at the opening of a two day workshop on “Implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 in Africa which is on Disarmament in Accra last Thursday, Mr. Tanaka said while the UN will do its utmost to help Africa overcome the problem of small and light arms, it is also vital for countries to meet the requirements set out in the UNSC 1540 consisting of putting in place national legal and regulatory measures and commitment to international cooperation on non-proliferation.

He said the meeting was significant in that it was designed specifically to increase awareness about obligations and requirements of the UNSC resolution 1540 and to assist the member states in implementing the resolution at the national and regional level.
“As a region, the African continent has thus far experienced more challenges than other regions with the implementation of resolution 1540,” he said adding, “For instance with regard to reporting the total number of first reports received globally by the 1540 Committee, to date 132 with 85 having submitted additional information.”
He said so far 18 African states have submitted reports with only six submitting additional information.
“It is clear that some of the first steps in implementation of there solution are already difficult for some states and those other aspects of implementation will also present similar challenges.
He said states lacking the necessary legal and regulatory infrastructure, implementation experience or resources may require assistance in implementing the provisions of resolution 1540.
“For that reason, states in a position to do so are strongly encouraged to offer assistance in response to specific requests.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Akwasi Osei Adjei on his part said the government of Ghana supports all international efforts at promoting a more peaceful and safer world.
“The Workshop takes place at a period of grave uncertainties,” he said adding, “The most urgent concerns of terrorism and the proliferation of WMD constitute the pre-eminent threat to global collective security,” he said.
He explained that recurring acts of terrorism continue to pose a security challenge to humanity as terrorist groups choose their targets without discrimination, evolve their modes of operation and devise more complex ways to carry out their heinous acts with even deadlier consequences.
He said it is against this background that the Security Councils adoption of resolution 1540 in 2004 and 1673 of 2006 has been widely hailed as landmark decisions.
“These resolutions demonstrate the determination of the Un to pursue comprehensive efforts to address the nexus between WMDs and terrorism and close the gap in international law regarding non-state actors and WMDs.”
The Security Council Resolution 1540 affirms that proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as well as their means of delivery constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
It also affirms to take appropriate and effective action against any threat to international peace and security caused by the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery in conformity with its primary responsibilities as provided for in the United nations Charter.

The resolution also affirms its support for the multilateral treaties whose aim is to eliminate or prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the importance for all states parties to these treaties to implement them fully in order to promote international stability.
The resolution further said it recognizes that most states have undertaken binding legal obligations under treaties to which they are parties or have made other commitments aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and have taken effective measures to account for, secure and physically protect sensitive materials.
Also acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the resolution decides hat all states shall refrain from providing any form o support to non-state actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.