Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2012

Preventing Conflicts in Africa: Early Warning and Response

Mireille Affa’a-Mindzie

August 2012

International Peace Institute

Abstract

In the wake of the crises in Mali and Guinea-Bissau in 2012, IPI co-organized a meeting with the Permanent Missions of South Africa and Azerbaijan to address the role and effectiveness of regional and international early-warning and response mechanisms.This meeting note summarizes the discussion at the meeting. In particular it analyzes the AU’s Continental Early Warning System, the UN’s root-cause approach, national early-warning structures in Ghana and Kenya, the role of civil society, and the challenges of adopting a timely response.