The International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) is held every four years and brings together member countries for high-level discussions on the implications of nuclear security worldwide.

ICONS 2024 featured a ministerial segment and a scientific and technical program under the theme "Shaping the Future," emphasizing the individual and collective responsibilities of states for the safe use of nuclear energy. It covered various fields such as electricity, human and animal health, agriculture, water and the environment, and nuclear energy.

True to its commitments, Burkina Faso, through a delegation led by Ambassador Maimounata Ouattara, reaffirmed its determination to ensure a high level of nuclear security on its territory.

This occasion was an opportunity to call on various partners for greater commitment, attention, and cooperation with Sahel states, which have been plagued by terrorism for several years.

On the sidelines of the Conference, participants attended about forty side events on topics related to Nuclear Security, including a panel organized by Canada on the achievements of the Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project (RIDP) in Africa, with Burkina Faso co-panelist Dr. Zakaria Yameogo, Head of the Inspections Division at the National Authority for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARSN). He presented the progress of our country in nuclear security with the support of the RIDP project, which was highly appreciated by the participants.

The RIDP, it should be noted, is an IAEA technical assistance mechanism aimed at helping states establish or improve their national regulatory infrastructure for radiation protection and the safety of radioactive materials.

Previous editions of ICONS were held in 2013, 2016, and 2020, and it is worth noting that the 2024 edition recorded a record turnout estimated at over a thousand participants.

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