I‐Multilateral Instruments:
1. Algeria has ratified all International Legal Instruments relevant to Nuclear Security in particular; those mentioned in the 2010 Washington Summit Final Communiqué and Work Plan, namely, the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
2.Algeria also completed the process of ratification of all related International Legal Instruments such as the United Nations Conventions on combating terrorism, organized crime, corruption and money laundering.
II‐Legislation and Regulations:
1. Algeria has amended its penal code to criminalize malicious utilization of radioactive materials, including in general acts of nuclear terrorism. This amendment is related to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
2. Algeria is pushing ahead with efforts to put in place strong regulatory provisions to strengthen nuclear security regime, namely in the area of physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities and security of radioactive sources during use, storage and transport.
3. In addition to the existing decrees, those establishing security perimeters around three nuclear research centers hosting nuclear materials and facilities, the government has just after the 2014 Hague nuclear security summit, issued a comprehensive decree governing the physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear material as well as the security of radioactive sources.
4. The content of this decree reflects the provisions of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM as amended) and takes into account criteria of the IAEA related recommendations as well as the implementing guides and technical guidance documents.
5. As part of this regulatory development process, Algeria has established a Nuclear Security Committee at the national level, in charge of the development and update of the Nuclear Security Program.
6. The Committee is also given the mandate to conduct threat assessment and to define appropriate security measures in compliance with the requirements applicable to storage, transport and use of nuclear material and radioactive sources.
7. Algeria has made significant progress, strengthening its national nuclear security architecture through the establishment of sustainable mechanisms and updated procedures to address nuclear security issues at borders including export control of dual-use materials.
8. Memorandums of understanding between involved national actors are regularly updated, to take charge of actions related to safety and security of nuclear materials and other radioactive materials.
9. As a result of these Memorandums of understanding, joint work plans have been developed aiming to strengthen national detection capabilities, in particular at borders, through training programs and technical support.
10. Significant updating of regulations is under development, with input from every department involved in security issues, taking into account international requirements and experiences.
III‐National and Regional Capacity‐building Actions:
1. A Nuclear Security Training and Support Center was entrusted in 2012 by presidential decree. Its mission is to provide a high quality technical and scientific support to the competent authorities as well as to contribute in enhancing human resources at both the national and regional level.
2. Training and support activities of the Centre follow the IAEA conceptual methodology, based on systematic approach to training and nuclear security needs assessment. Specific training courses and workshops are regularly delivered to various operators and stakeholders involved in applying nuclear security measures.
3. Several outreach Conferences on illicit trafficking of radioactive sources are regularly organized for customs.
4. Master’s degree course in nuclear security has been implemented as well as nuclear security and physical protection modules were included in the nuclear engineering education programs.
5. During 2013-2016, Algeria organized several national and regional courses in nuclear security. Some of them were supported by the IAEA, namely, the workshops on Design basis threat, nuclear forensics, radiological crime scene management and nuclear security culture.
6. Courses are regularly organized, in cooperation with the IAEA, on nuclear safety, safeguards and security; they met with great success and have had strong participation among African states, for both the English and French speaking countries.
IV‐ International Cooperation and Coordinating Mechanisms:
1. Algeria is a founding member of the international network of nuclear security and support centers, created under the auspices of the IAEA on the 2nd February 2012. Algerian experts from different institutions are actively contributing in its working groups.
A particular importance is attached to strengthening the activities of the network by fostering those aimed at promoting an intensive and sustainable collaboration between the network members through exchange of experience and best practices in nuclear security training.
2. Algeria is cooperating with the IAEA to adopt and implement the integrated nuclear security and support plan (INNSP). Since the last INSSP meeting, held in Algiers in November 2013, gathering national representatives and IAEA experts, Algeria issued many regulations and took several steps with a view to enhancing its nuclear security framework for which an update is about to be completed during the year 2016.
3. Algeria has participated in training courses on Physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear security infrastructure development in Republic of Korea, International Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security Academy (INSA).
4. During 2012‐2016, Algeria, with the U.S./State Department, has identified relevant areas of collaboration in the field of nuclear security.
The cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has now entered the phase of implementation.
Needs assessment has been jointly conducted with the objective of identifying topical areas of training and technical support. Several Action plans focusing on specific training and technical cooperation in nuclear security are being deployed.
The scope of work for these Action Sheets includes in particular, tasks focusing on physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities and the security of radioactive sources as well as nuclear security curriculum training development, train-the-trainer, cyber-security and nuclear forensics.
Train-the-trainer was outlined as a priority task, to provide the Algerian nuclear security training and support centre, powerful human resource capabilities to deliver nuclear security training at both national and regional level.
Various Workshops were organized within the framework of this cooperation, namely: The Fundamentals of physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities, Development of an Analytical Plan in Support of a Nuclear Forensics Investigation based on CMX-4 Exercise, Graded approach to developing a national nuclear forensics library.
5. Since its adherence to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), in February 2012, Algeria is following with great interest its activities and looks forward to contributing to its continuous efforts toward the goal of strengthening the overall global architecture to combat nuclear terrorism
6. Algeria has been involved through the North‐Africa‐and‐Sahel Regional Secretariat of the EU‐CBRN threat reduction Centre of Excellence (EU CBRN‐CoE) in the coordination of several cooperative projects in the area of capacity building to enhance nuclear security and CBRN safety and security at the national, regional and international level.
The initiative has now entered a new phase, where the participating countries are invited, as a next step, to carry out a needs assessment. This initiative plays a major role by ensuring cooperation and coordination with partner countries through their National Focal Points and by facilitating the implementation of projects in the region.
7. Algeria has hosted several workshops and meetings through the (EU CBRN‐CoE) cooperation project, related to nuclear detection instruments at ports and airports (JRC/EU), dual use equipment and control (EU/CBRN) and export control regulation with (BAFA), Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
An additional mechanism was also established in 2015 to enhance the cooperation among African police. Called the African Police Cooperation Organization- AFRIPOL (under the aegis of the African Union), headquartered in Algiers, Algeria. AFRIPOL will bring together all African police forces to cooperate in the fight against crime, especially terrorism and cross-border crimes like illicit trafficking.
