Onyinye OnwukaOnyinye OnwukaEarly Warning DirectorateEarly Warning Directorate

ECOWAS CommissionECOWAS Commission

To introduce and acquaint participants with the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response System

To understand the role of regional organisations in preventing genocide and mass atrocities

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Learning Objectives

Background Internal armed Conflicts in West Africa ECOWAS Normative peace & security

Framework Structure and Functions of the Early

Warning System (ECOWARN) Conclusions

Article VIII of the UN Charter clearly recognized the role which “regional arrangements or agencies” could play in “dealing with matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security”

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established on 28 May 1975 in order to promote cooperation and economic integration in West Africa, through the harmonization and coordination of national policies, programmes and activities.

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15 Member States•Benin

•Burkina Faso

•Cape Verde

•Cote d’Ivoire

•The Gambia

•Ghana

•Guinea

•Guinea Bissau

•Liberia

•Mali

•Niger

•Nigeria

•Senegal

•Sierra Leone

•Togo

•Mauritania*

The end of the cold war and the growing mantra of local solutions to local problems in the face of growing intra-state challenges especially on the African Continent, witnessed an upsurge in the influence of regional organizations in peacemaking and peacekeeping.

ECOWAS region has witnessed prolonged civil wars : Liberia (1990-1999, 2003) Sierra Leone (1997-2000) Guinea Bissau (1998,2003, 2012 ECOWAS Mission in Bissau

(ECOMIB) Cote d’Ivoire (2003-2004) Currently Mali with the African led International Support

Mission in Mali (AFISMA) The West African region has hosted three separate UN Peace

Keeping missions –Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire

Mass atrocities (defined here as ethnic cleansing, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide)

recurrence of the inter-ethnic violence Refugees and IDPs Mercenaries and Arms trafficking Child Soldiers Human/Drug trafficking Military interventions Weak democratic institutions Terrorism & Extremism Poverty

An urgent requirement of prioritizing conflict prevention in the same way as economic development and integration.

The need to develop a common prevention agenda, which encompasses structural and direct conflict prevention, with appropriate measures and programs for the prevention of both armed conflict and mass atrocity crimes

The need to heed early warning signs, and be prepared to act quickly and effectively when the indicators show the potential for systematic atrocities.

Protocol on Non-Aggression (PNA) April 1978 (committed member states to refrain from threat and use of force against one another).

The Protocol Relating to Mutual Assistance on Defence (PMAD) May 1981 (provides for a collective response where a member state is a victim of internal armed conflict that is engineered and supported actively from outside)

1993 Revised Treaty (broaden the organization’s mandate beyond economic development and integration.

1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict

Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security

2001 supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance

2008 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework

Article 58 of the 1993 Revised Treaty provided for the establishment of a Peace and Security Architecture)

“A regional peace and security observation system known as the Early Warning system or “The System” is hereby established for the purposes of conflict prevention and in accordance with Article 58 of the Revised treaty.”

Institutions The institutions of the Mechanism shall

be: The Authority; The Mediation and Security Council; The Executive Secretariat (Now the

Commission); Any other institution as may be

established by the Authority

Adopted in January 2008 the ECPF is to provide a framework for operationalising programs and activities for operational and structural conflict prevention in ECOWAS Member States, in order to enhance the human security of Community citizens.

It is a strategic framework that underpins the preventive aspects of the 1999 Mechanism.

A guide for enhancing cohesion and synergy between relevant ECOWAS departments on conflict prevention initiatives in order to maximize outcomes and ensure a more active and operational posture on conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction

Mainstreaming conflict prevention into ECOWAS’ policies and programmes and strengthen regional capacities and tools for preventing violent conflicts.

Build awareness and strengthen capacity within Member States and civil society to enhance their role as principal constituencies and actors in conflict prevention and peace-building.

Provides linkage between operational conflict and structural conflict prevention.

Structural Prevention Measures to reduce risk of armed

conflict; Mitigation of risk of peacetime atrocities

• Imminent armed conflict• Serious political/social instability Direct PreventionPrevent imminent armed conflict

Early Warning Preventive Diplomacy Democracy and Good Governance Human Rights and the Rule of Law Media Natural Resource Governance Practical Disarmament Women, Peace and Security Cross Border Initiatives Security Governance Youth Empowerment ECOWAS Standby Force Humanitarian Assistance and Peace Education

Paragraph 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome, emphasizes the role of regional and sub-regional organizations and arrangements in preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity and their incitement, as well as in responding in a timely and decisive manner,“should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations” from such crimes and violations.’’

Beyond legal instruments and guidelines, ECOWAS is imbued with the necessary supranational powers (acting on behalf of and in conjunction with Member States, AU, UN) as well as the legitimacy to intervene to protect human security in three distinct ways namely:

The responsibility to prevent The responsibility to react The responsibility to rebuild

Under the Department of Political Affairs, Peace & Security

The Early Warning System is based on open source information.

Human security centered using quantitative and qualitative analysis methodology

Located at the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, with;

Three divisions namely; Systems, Analysis and Programme Management, also

Four Observation and Monitoring Zones Mission

Data collection, analysis and preparation of reports for the use of the ECOWAS Commission

CollaborationWith UN , AU, Research Centers, RECs, Civil

Society, etc

ECOWARN 66 INDICATORS ( English)Agriculture, Farming, Fishing, Livestock & Mining

An outbreak of livestock or crop disease, damage or death was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Significant pastoralist-farmer tension or conflict was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Raiding, theft, damage or destruction of agricultural products or livestock was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

A significant increase (Agree) or decrease (Disagree) in the price of a staple food was evident or reported.

A scarcity of one or more basic food products in markets was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Crime, Corruption and Safety

Armed groups or gangster operations were evident or reported (if so, please explain).

Smuggling of goods or corruption by border officials was evident or reported.

A decrease in the sense of public security or order was evident or reported (if so, please explain).

A significant increase (Agree) or decrease (Disagree) in armed checkpoints or roadblocks was evident or reported.

Economy, Trade and Manufacturing

A reduction or restriction on oil or mineral mining activities was evident or reported.

A suspension or interruption of economic or non-military external aid was evident or reported.

An anti-labor policy or action was introduced (if so, please identify).

An significant increase in under-employment, unemployment, layoffs or plant closings was evident or reported.

Labor strikes, economic boycotts, general strikes, walkouts or work stoppages were evident or reported.

An economic policy or action directed against women was introduced (if so, please identify).

An increased (Agree) or decreased (Disagree) number of migrant laborers was evident or reported.

Markets, including mobile traders, remained open and active.

Prices of a strategic commodity on the international market rose (Agree) or fell (Disagree).

Governance, Political Action and the Law

A breach of the separation of powers, abuse of power or misuse of public resources was evident or reported.

Exclusion or marginalization of political opponents or ethnic groups was evident or reported.

Individual or group intimidation or harassment is evident or reported (if so, please identify)

Accusations or complaints over the scheduling, conduct or outcomes of an election or referendum were evident or reported.

Local governance, including law enforcement and judicial systems, operated effectively and without interruption.

A reversal of government social welfare obligations or commitments to its people was evident or reported If so, please identify).

A negative impact from new government restrictions on movement of people was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Public assemblies, protests or demonstrations against the government were evident or reported (if so, please identify.)

Dispossessions of land ownership were evident or reported (if so, please identify).Use of the military to maintain civil order was evident or reported.Health, Education and Social Services

An outbreak of any disease, acute health issue or an epidemic was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Health care facilities, including traditional practioners, remained accessible and their services were uninterrupted.

Student attendance at classes dropped significantly or schools closed (if so, please identify)..

Relief supplies were available through operational distribution systems.

An increase (Agree) or decrease (Disagree) in welfare programs or basic support was evident or reported.

Exclusion or marginalization of certain groups in welfare or basic support were evident or reported (if so, please identify).

A deterioration or interruption in the provision of drinking water or electricity was evident or reported (if so, please identify).

Information, Communications and TransportationNew media or press controls were introduced (if so, please identify).Transportation via roads and/or trains was generally uninterrupted.Access to information and communications was generally open.Natural Disasters, Accidents and the Environment

An emergency condition was declared by the national government. (If so, please identify).

An emergency condition was evident or reported but without a formal declaration by the national government (if so, please identify).

An unusual weather pattern such as early/late, excess/absent rains portends imminent hardships (if so, please identify).

Negotiations, Mediation and Peacekeeping

Requests or calls for assistance with mediation, negotiation or reconciliation were reported or evident (if so, please identify).

Civil society and religious groups were actively engaged in local peace initiatives (If so, please identify).

Negotiation or mediation services were used or conflict resolution.

Positive views of local democratic processes or peaceful initiatives were presented in the media.

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programs, including weapons buy-backs, were active.

Security forces were actively engaged in peace initiatives in local communities (if so, please identify).

Security, Arms and Armed ConflictSmall arms and/or ammunition were readily available.Armed support or intervention was evident (if so, please identify).Porous borders or trafficking of arms or ammunition were evident or reported.

Destabilizing impact of an armed conflict in a neighboring country was reported or evident (if so, please explain).

Society, Culture, Community and Religion

A significant reduction in interaction between communities or groups was evident or reported (if so, please explain).

Disrespect or bypassing of traditional institutions and leaders was evident or reported (if so, please explain).Negative images, intolerance or hateful speech toward a group of people or community was evident or reported (if so, please identify).Desecration or denigration of a religion, religious symbol or sacred location was evident or reported (if so, please explain).Politicization, abuse of power or misuse of public resources by a Chieftaincy or traditional institutions was evident or reported.Tension or conflict among or between Chieftains and the government was evident or reported (if so, please explain)..

A significant increase (Agree) or decrease (Disagree) in drug trafficking was evident or reported.

A significant increase (Agree) or decrease (Disagree) in trafficking of people was evident or reported.

Women, Children, Refugees and Gender Inequality

Children being denied an education was evident or reported (if so, please explain).

Abuse of child labor, child begging or similar practices was evident or reportedChild soldiering was evident or reported (if so, please explain).An influx of internally displaced persons or refugees was evident.Domestic violence or violence against women was evident or reported.

Cultural practices that are inimical to human dignity and health were evident or reported (if so, identify)

Legislation or edicts that have a positive impact on women were evident or reported (if so, please explain).

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

SITUATION REPORTS: Weekly Situation Report Quarterly Security Situation Reports Annual Peace and Security Situation

Report Situation Update Report

MONTHLY COUNTRY POLICY BRIEFS

INCIDENT REPORT

EARLY WARNING REPORT

THEMATIC REPORTS

Genocide and mass atrocity prevention requires an “atrocity prevention lens” to inform and, where appropriate, direct policy development and decision making across the full spectrum of prevention related activities.

ECOWAS has gone further in attempting to mainstream the prevention of genocide and responsibility to protect in its conflict prevention mandate

The ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate organized the first African Regional Policy Forum on R2P, with the Global Centre for R2P, on June 11-12 2012.

The Forum raised awareness on the R2P concept within the region and examined ECOWAS policies and institutions to protect populations against mass atrocities.

It recommended the need for Member States to establish National R2P Focal Points based on their respective local context.

Conflict System Country Risks Assessment Review of the ECOWAS Early Warning System Advocacy for National Early Warning System

with an R2P National Focal Point, knowing that while the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities targets specific actors and seeks to dissuade it from committing atrocities, generic conflict prevention targets several actors and pursues a consensual agreement among them.

The key to narrowing the atrocity prevention agenda lies in identifying strategies that target specific risks and capacity gaps in particular country and/or regional contexts.

There is no substitute for the detailed examination of individual countries to determine the nature and source of risks and the extent of resilience as a basis for determining the appropriate strategies that might be utilized to reduce the risk of genocide and mass atrocities.

Timeliness in information gathering is important but early warning does not guarantee prevention.

There is an urgent need to expand and strengthen the system of collective responses to contending conflicts and also strengthen the capacities and capabilities of regional/Sub-Regional organisations for timely response.

The international community must be prepared to act quickly and effectively when early warning indicators show the potential for systematic atrocities anywhere.

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