Awareness of Chemical Weapons Urged in Africa

The vice president of Tanzania yesterday urged all African nations to consider the danger posed by chemical weapons, IPP Media reported (see GSN, July 27).

Greater understanding is needed regarding the issues of chemical disarmament and the Chemical Weapons Convention, Ali Mohamed Shein said at a regional meeting of African agencies designated to fulfill their countries’ obligations under the treaty.

“We cannot deny that most of our people do not have the awareness, but history shows us that chemical weapons had been used in many countries like Angola, Guinea Bissau, Egypt, Mozambique and Zimbabwe,” Shein said.

Forty-eight African nations have signed the treaty that prohibits the development, production, use or transfer of chemical weapons.  Five African nations have not signed the pact, which has 180 states parties, IPP reported.

Each member state is required to designate a national authority and develop legislation and administrative rules to meet its treaty requirements.  This was the fourth meeting of national authorities in Africa (Hannah Mwandoloma, IPP Media, Oct. 17).

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