Vienna, September 2025 – On the sidelines of the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) took a major new step in its commitment to nuclear safety and security. Two landmark milestones underscored this progress: the renewal of its Practical Arrangements with the IAEA on emergency preparedness and response, and the extension of its designation as an IAEA Collaborating Centre in the field of nuclear security capacity building.

Established in Rabat in 2019, AMSSNuR’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Capacity Building Centre has rapidly become a key player in Africa and beyond. Supported by a robust network of national partners – including the Mohammed V Military Hospital, the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health through the National Centre for Radiological Protection, and CNESTEN – the Centre has launched multi-year training programs, hosted major international exercises such as the IAEA ConvEx drills, and welcomed the Regional School for Radiological Emergency Management in both English and French editions. The renewal of the Practical Arrangements will further strengthen training, expertise sharing, and international cooperation in this critical area.

At the same time, AMSSNuR has been redesignated as an IAEA Collaborating Centre for another four years in the field of nuclear security capacity building. As the first African institution to earn this recognition in 2021, AMSSNuR reaffirms its pivotal role as a regional and international hub. Its activities have spanned regulation and inspections, security plan evaluations, detection and recovery of orphan sources, and the development of train-the-trainer programs. The Agency has also broadened regional cooperation through FNRBA, ANNuR, and GNSSN, thereby promoting a shared culture of nuclear safety and security.

These two renewals, concluded in the presence of H.E. Mr. Azzeddine Farhane, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to Vienna, underscore the international recognition of Morocco as a regional leader in nuclear and radiological safety and security. They also highlight AMSSNuR’s strategic vision in anticipating emerging challenges linked to small modular reactors, cyber threats, and artificial intelligence.

On this occasion, Mr. Saïd Mouline, Director General of AMSSNuR and Chair of the Global Nuclear Safety and Security Network (GNSSN), emphasized the importance of these partnerships, stating: “They are essential to consolidating a robust, coordinated, and sustainable system for emergency preparedness and response, while building regional expertise and reinforcing international cooperation in the interest of global safety and security.”

With this dual achievement, AMSSNuR reaffirms its ambition to stand as a reference institution – serving Morocco, Africa, and the international community – in ensuring the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation.