Congratulations South Sudan – Let’s Celebrate State Party No. 112

On 3 August, South Sudan formally acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). South Sudan’s accession to the CCM demonstrates its commitment to global peace and security, as well as its firm stand against the use of weapons that cause suffering and harm to innocent people.

According to Article 17, paragraph 2, the CCM will come into force for South Sudan on 1 February 2024. Its initial Article 7 report will be due on 30 July 2024 as per Article 7, paragraph 1.

By taking this momentous step, South Sudan enters the CCM community that will support its implementation of the Convention.

With South Sudan’s accession, 36 out of a total of 54 African States have either ratified or acceded to the Convention. Among these, 8 African States (Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda) have signed the Convention, while another 10 (Algeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Zimbabwe) have yet to accede to it.

As we celebrate South Sudan’s commitment to the CCM, we also recognize the critical role that every State plays in ensuring a safer and more secure future for all, where the use of cluster munitions is no longer a threat to innocent lives and communities. This achievement is a testament to the persistent efforts of all States Parties whose combined advocacy and dedication have advanced the universalization of the Convention.

Welcome and congratulations, South Sudan!