Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Charlotte Dykstra
Committee: Disarmament and International Security
Topic: No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Delegate: Charlotte Dykstra, FH Northern HS
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria approaches the issue of nuclear disarmament from a position shaped by lived experience and a continued commitment to global security. Algeria’s history with nuclear weapons is both traumatic and deeply political. Between 1960 and 1966, during the final years of French colonial rule, France conducted seventeen nuclear tests in the Sahara, most notably at Reggane and In Ekker. These tests released massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment, contaminating nearly 100,000 square kilometers of desert and exposing tens of thousands of Algerians to harmful radiation. The long-term health and ecological consequences (elevated cancer rates, poisoned groundwater, and uninhabitable landscapes) remain a daily reality for affected communities. This legacy forms the foundation of Algeria’s unwavering advocacy for a world without nuclear weapons.
As a nation directly harmed by nuclear testing, Algeria believes that nuclear weapons do not strengthen security; rather, they create instability, perpetuate structural injustice, and threaten civilian life. Algerian leadership has repeatedly affirmed this position with former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stating that humanity cannot claim progress while weapons capable of destroying it remain. These statements reflect a national consensus: nuclear disarmament is not simply a diplomatic objective but a moral duty grounded in the lived suffering of Algerian citizens.
This commitment has translated into consistent action at the international level. Algeria is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon–free zone. Algeria was among the 122 member states that voted in favor of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2017, underscoring its support for eliminating nuclear arsenals globally. Additionally, Algeria has continuously urged France to release classified data on Saharan test sites, provide compensation to victims, and support environmental remediation. France’s admission in 2010 that its Saharan tests released at least 13,000 times more radiation than initially disclosed validates Algeria’s calls for accountability and transparency.
At the same time, Algeria recognizes the value of peaceful, strictly regulated nuclear technologies. The nation maintains civilian nuclear research centers and supports the use of nuclear energy for medical, agricultural, and environmental purposes under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency. This balance reflects Algeria’s belief that scientific advancement and safety can coexist.
In this committee, Algeria seeks to promote universal adherence to the TPNW, strengthen global commitments to “No First Use” policies, and develop international mechanisms to assist communities harmed by past nuclear testing. Algeria also supports expanding verification measures to ensure transparency among nuclear-armed states. Ultimately, Algeria’s position is shaped both by its historical relationship with France and by its partnerships with non-aligned countries working toward collective security. What Algeria hopes to accomplish in this body is clear: a sincere, enforceable, and equitable path toward global nuclear disarmament, ensuring that no nation endures the devastation Algeria experienced in the Sahara.
