Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Subregional Workshop on Nuclear Law for French-Speaking African Member States

This event served as an important platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and strengthening of national legal frameworks in line with international legal instruments, standards and guidance. Six Member States requested bilateral meetings to identify their specific national needs in legislative assistance, including awareness-raising among decision-makers, policy-makers and parliamentarians, reviews of draft and enacted nuclear legislation, national workshops on nuclear law and training in nuclear law such as the IAEA Nuclear Law Institute.

Aude Laetitia Koumba Djiembi Djiembi, from the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic Resources of Gabon, stated that “this event was a very good opportunity to obtain tools to strengthen our nuclear legal framework. The knowledge shared and the discussions held have enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of international legal instruments, which will help considerably in the development of our legislative framework”.

“The themes discussed during this workshop were very edifying to me. Also as a PhD fellow, the knowledge acquired and the opportunity to interact with experts and peers, including university professors, provided me with the necessary tools to align the legislation of my country with international legal frameworks” stated Theoneste Niyongabire, Prosecutor General Assistant near the Supreme Court of Burundi.

The IAEA remains committed to supporting its Member States in the region in developing or enhancing their legal frameworks. This event followed a Sub-Regional Workshop on Law for English-speaking African Member States held in Cairo, Egypt, in July 2024. Previous such regional workshops on nuclear law for French-speaking African Member States in 2021 and 2017.