South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone facts for kids
Flag of the ZPCAS
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Member countries shown in blue
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| Formation | 27 October 1986 |
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| Headquarters | Brasília, Brazil |
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Membership
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24 member states |
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Official language
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English, Portuguese, Spanish, French |
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Secretary General
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H.E.Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
The South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, often called ZPCAS or ZOPACAS, is a special group of countries. It was started in 1986 by Brazil and the U.N.. Its main goal is to keep the South Atlantic region peaceful and safe.
The ZPCAS also works to stop the spread of nuclear weapons in the area. It aims to reduce and eventually remove military forces from countries outside the region.
In 1994, ZPCAS members agreed to make the South Atlantic a "denuclearized" zone. This means no nuclear weapons would be allowed there. The U.N. General Assembly supported this idea. However, some countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and France did not agree.
The South Atlantic itself is not yet a completely nuclear-weapon-free zone. But all ZPCAS member countries have signed international agreements that ban nuclear weapons. These include the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty and the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Some islands in the South Atlantic are not covered by these treaties. These include Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, and Bouvet Island. Also, the Falkland Islands, which are a British Overseas Territory, are not part of these agreements.
Who are the Members of ZPCAS?
The ZPCAS includes 24 countries. Most of these countries are located in Africa and South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean.
| Country | Continent |
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 Angola |
Africa |
 Argentina |
Americas |
 Benin |
Africa |
 Brazil |
Americas |
 Cabo Verde |
Africa |
 Cameroon |
Africa |
 Congo |
Africa |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Africa |
 Equatorial Guinea |
Africa |
 Gabon |
Africa |
 Gambia |
Africa |
 Ghana |
Africa |
 Guinea |
Africa |
 Guinea Bissau |
Africa |
 Ivory Coast |
Africa |
 Liberia |
Africa |
 Namibia |
Africa |
 Nigeria |
Africa |
 Sao Tome and Principe |
Africa |
 Senegal |
Africa |
 Sierra Leone |
Africa |
 South Africa |
Africa |
 Togo |
Africa |
 Uruguay |
Americas |
See also
In Spanish: Zona de Paz y Cooperación del Atlántico Sur para niños
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries
- African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Africa-South America Summit
