---
title: "Joining Chemical Weapons Convention a priority says South Sudan"
description: "CBRNe World provides those tasked with defending against CBRN and IED threats with the essential practical, scientific and political information. Access the current and previous issues of the magazine by registering as a member."
url: "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/joining-chemical-weapons-convention-a-priority-says-south-sudan"
date: "2026-07-30T21:12:09+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

#  Joining Chemical Weapons Convention a priority says South Sudan

 Written by Zoe Rutherford on 04 October 2023.

The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, Hon. James Pitia Morgan, on 3 October 2023 in the margins of [CHEMEX Africa](https://organisationfortheprohibitionofchemicalweaponsopcw.cmail19.com/t/d-l-viiujo-ihuhjikyti-y/) in Algiers, Algeria.

The Director-General and the Minister both emphasised the importance of upholding and strengthening the global norm against chemical weapons and discussed South Sudan’s progress towards accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The two high-level officials agreed to work together to complete the accession process as soon as possible.

“South Sudan is committed to the objective of a world free of chemical weapons,” the Minister said. “While South Sudan is a young, developing country with many priorities before it, we are a responsible member of the international community and accession to the Convention at an early stage remains a priority for us.”

The Director-General briefed the Minister on the ongoing work of the OPCW in preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, including the wide range of international cooperation programmes offered by the Organisation, such as assistance and protection related to the use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

Ambassador Arias further emphasised that universal adherence to the Convention remains a top priority for the OPCW and stated: “I commend South Sudan’s ambition to accede to the Convention at an early stage. The OPCW is ready to provide any support South Sudan may require in this endeavour.”

The Director-General and the Minister concluded the meeting by [signing a joint communique](https://organisationfortheprohibitionofchemicalweaponsopcw.cmail19.com/t/d-l-viiujo-ihuhjikyti-j/). They also discussed broader issues related to global arms control, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and disarmament.

The meeting took place with financial support from the Government of Canada.

 [Chemical](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/chemical)

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