Hon. Injoh Projects Cameroon’s Nuclear Security Leadership at PGA Africa

Cameroon has reaffirmed its growing commitment to nuclear and radiological security at the PGA Regional African Cluster Workshop on Engaging Female Parliamentarians in Promoting Nuclear and Radiological Security, held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, from 23–24 February 2026. The coun

Cameroon has reaffirmed its growing commitment to nuclear and radiological security at the PGA Regional African Cluster Workshop on Engaging Female Parliamentarians in Promoting Nuclear and Radiological Security, held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, from 23–24 February 2026. The country’s position was articulated in a comprehensive paper presented by Honourable Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Awa, Member of Parliament, under the theme “Nuclear and Radiological Security in Cameroon.”

In her presentation, Hon. Injoh outlined Cameroon’s geopolitical and institutional context, noting that the country is a member of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC). Bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo, and with its capital in Yaoundé, Cameroon has a population of approximately 31 million people and operates bilingually in English and French alongside more than 250 indigenous languages.

She stressed that while Cameroon does not possess nuclear power plants or research reactors, it manages nearly 200 radioactive sources used in medicine, research, and other civilian applications.

Central to Cameroon’s nuclear governance architecture is the Radiological Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (ASRAN), formerly known as the National Radiation Protection Agency.

The regulatory body, placed under the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation led by Dr. Madeleine Tchuinte, oversees radiation safety and nuclear security nationwide. Hon. Injoh highlighted Decree No. 2024/599 of 19 November 2024, which reorganized and strengthened the authority’s mandate, ensuring strict lifecycle control of radioactive sources, licensing of users, criminalization of related offences, and implementation of Law No. 2019/012 on radiological and nuclear safety.

The Cameroonian legislator underscored the country’s adherence to key international legal instruments, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its amendment, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, for which Cameroon hosts a monitoring station.

She noted that although Cameroon has not yet ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, Parliament through the support of the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) is actively encouraging government action toward ratification.

On physical protection and material control, Cameroon continues to operate a secure storage facility for low-activity disused radioactive sources, inaugurated in 2019 with international support.

The facility centralizes and safeguards spent sources against unauthorized access. ASRAN maintains an updated national inventory of ionizing radiation sources and conducts inspections, import-export controls, and searches for orphan sources to mitigate risks associated with theft or illicit trafficking.

International cooperation remains a cornerstone of Cameroon’s nuclear security strategy.

The country collaborates closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States. Through these partnerships, Cameroon implemented a Nuclear Security Support Plan and received tailored assistance during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to enhance radiological protection measures.

A new Country Programme Framework for 2024–2029 signed with the IAEA prioritizes nuclear and radiological safety and security among its strategic areas.

A significant focus of the workshop was the role of women in advancing nuclear governance.

Hon. Injoh emphasized that Cameroonian women are increasingly active in regulatory compliance, radiation protection, public awareness, and scientific research. Engagement is bolstered through initiatives such as Women in Nuclear Africa, Women in Nuclear Global, and the Women in Nuclear Security Initiative, alongside Canadian-funded parliamentary projects between 2023 and 2025 aimed at promoting ratification and implementation of core nuclear security conventions.

She also cited national awareness seminars organized in March 2025 in collaboration with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to strengthen public communication and technical capacity.

Despite these achievements, Cameroon faces notable challenges, including internal security tensions, porous borders, and busy maritime corridors that heighten risks of illicit trafficking. Hon. Injoh called for enhanced parliamentary oversight, sustained funding, and broader public outreach to consolidate legislative backing and reinforce operational readiness.

Concluding her address, the Cameroonian MP affirmed that while the country has laid a solid legal and institutional foundation for nuclear and radiological security, continued vigilance, enforcement, and international cooperation are essential. Her intervention at the Dar-es-Salaam workshop positioned Cameroon as a proactive African state leveraging female parliamentary leadership to strengthen global nuclear security norms and safeguard public health and the environment.