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HCoC.at

Supporting the Hague Code of Conduct

an FRS project funded by the European Union

Regional Seminar in South Africa
Missile Proliferation: What role for confidence-building measures such as the HCoC

25-26 Novembre 2025

Pretoria, South Africa

On 25-26 November 2025, the FRS, in cooperation with the Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO), hosted a Regional Seminar in Pretoria dedicated to ‘Missile Proliferation: What Role for Confidence-Building Measures Such as the HCOC?’. Representatives from South Africa , as well as governmental delegates from regional countries (including Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) , and officials from international organisations and other experts took part in this event.

AGENDA

25 NOVEMBER 2025

Visit of the South African Air Force Museum

Presentation of the South African ballistic missile programme and its dismantlement (Prof. André Buys)

Introduction

  • Mr Alexandre Houdayer, Secretary General, Fondation pour la Recherche stratégique (FRS)

  • Mr Kevin Kazimirek, Head of Political, Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to South Africa

  • Mr. Christian Mandl, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum, Pretoria

  • Amb. Alejandro Garofali, Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations (Vienna), Chair of the HCoC (2025-2026)

  • Ms. Lutendo Muvhango Director, Transnational Organised Crime, Department of International Relations & Cooperation, DIRCO

First session: The Global Non-Proliferation & Disarmament Architecture, Southern Africa and the issue of ‘Means of Delivery’

Moderator: Ms Gugu Dube, Researcher, Automated Decision Research

  • Mr Simabatu Mayele Sims Nono, Executive Director, Centre for Research and Information on Disarmament and Security (CRIDS)

  • Mr Kudakwashe Mapako, Arms Control Negotiations Academy Fellow

  • Mr Abdel Darou-Salim, Coordinator, UNODA Small Arms and Light weapons Fellowship for Africa, UNREC

Second session: The proliferation of ballistic missiles: Currents trends and security challenges

Moderator: Ms Sandy Africa, Research Director, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA)

  • Mr Noel Stott, Senior Researcher, VERTIC

  • Mr Ian Fleming Zhou, Nuclear Policy Analyst & Researcher, Atomic Reporters and PhD Candidate, University of Pretoria

  • Ms Emmanuelle Maitre, Senior Research Fellow, Fondation pour la Recherche stratégique (FRS)

Third session: The HCoC: A multilateral confidence-building measure dealing with ballistic missiles

Moderator: Ms Emmanuelle Maitre, Research Fellow, FRS

  • Amb. Alejandro Garofali, Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations (Vienna), Chair of the HCoC (2025-2026)

  • Mr George-Wilhelm Gallnofer, Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Head of Immediate Central Contact of the HCoC, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria (recorded presentation)

  • Mr Alexandre Houdayer, Secretary General, Fondation pour la Recherche stratégique (FRS)

Fourth session: Breakout discussion

 

9

26 NOVEMBER 2025

Fith session: Space developments and spread of dual-use technologies

Moderator: Mr David (Thandokuhle Mandla) Kasibante, Founder and CEO at Space4Tomorrow, Space Generation Advisory Council 

  • Mr Alexandre Houdayer, Secratary General, Fondation pour la Recherche stratégique (FRS)
  • Mr Jaymion Hendricks, Office of the Chief State Law Advisor (International Law), DIRCO

Sixth session: Interactive Exercise

Moderators: Mr Noel Stott (VERTIC), Ms Ermanuelle Maitre (FRS) & Mr Miguel Angel Garcia Carrasco (FRS) 
October
2021
Research Papers

The HCoC and China

China is currently the main ballistic missile possessor and spacefaring nation which remains outside the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC). This can be explained by China’s traditional opacity regarding its deployment of strategic missiles, but also its exports of ballistic systems or technologies abroad. This absence is nonetheless problematic for a regime based on voluntary transparency and confidence-building which aims at universality.

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March
2022
Research Papers

The Hague Code of Conduct and Space

This paper considers the dual approach of the Code by analysing the similarities between launchers and ballistic missiles in light of new technical developments, and assessing the risk of missile technology proliferation. It also assesses the new trends and developments in the space sector that may have an impact on the ability of the HCoC to remain relevant in its efforts to curb the proliferation of ballistic launchers.

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