“This paper aims to provide an overview of CEWS essential characteristics as a continental system, and present a brief history of the development and current status of the System. This provides a useful background against which we can review and measure progress at the regional level, primarily looking at developments in West Africa, the Horn, Central and Southern Africa where early warning systems are in varying stages of development. The introductory section provides an essential backdrop to the subsequent discussions, explaining the key differences between intergovernmental early warning and national intelligence systems, and the relationship between early warning, conflict prevention and governance. A concluding section offers some thoughts on the challenges ahead and the way forward.”
