South Sudan mulls ratifying nuclear test ban treaty

South Sudan is working towards ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), said a foreign affairs official.

 The treaty is a multilateral commitment that bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes.

Adut Jwokgwen, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the country was keen to ratify the treaty as a commitment to international peace and security.

Jwokgwen made the statement on the national public broadcaster, SSBC on Wednesday following a visit of Robert Floyd, the head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization [CTBTO] in the country.

“Dr. Floyd’s visit to Juba marks the first visit to of the CTBTO to the country. The two [foreign affairs minister and CTBTO head] discussed South Sudan’s national, regional, and global commitment to peace and security,” Jokgwen said.

“They also discussed ongoing peace agreement and South Sudan works towards ratifying the nuclear test ban treaty,” she added.

Floyd who was on his first visit to the country commended the government’s commitment to completing works to ratify the treaty.  

“It’s such an honour for South Sudan takes its role in international peace and security so seriously and I was delighted to hear from the foreign minister today; his keenness to see South Sudan ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear- test-ban treaty.”

“That is such a pleasure to see South Sudan standing with 51 other African countries in support of this important treaty for all humanity,” he said.

Ratified by 177 countries including 51 African nations, the CTBT aims to get all countries to sign the treaty to end to nuclear testing.

However, a number of powerful countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and India have yet to ratify the treaty.