The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in close collaboration with civil society organizations accredited to the regional trade bloc has developed a Conflict Early Warning System which will enable the organisation intervene in conflicts in the region at the earliest stage.

COMESA Secretary General Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya announced this at the opening of the second annual review workshop for civil society and private sector organizations held on 10th November 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda. This was in a speech read on his behalf by the COMESA Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mweusi Karake.

The COMESA Conflict Early Warning System or COMWARN will be monitoring indicators that point to conflict vulnerabilities in Member States.

“We are still in the process of developing the indicators, through a process that will firstly involve conflict vulnerability assessments. Once these have been put in place, COMESA will be able to intervene in conflicts at the earliest stage possible and hence respond to its mandate of conflict prevention through preventive diplomacy”, Mr. Ngwenya said.

He added that COMESA has elected five out of nine eminent persons to serve as members on the Committee of Elders. Their primary role will be to assist the Office of the Secretary General in preventive diplomacy assignments and thus further strengthen COMESA’s conflict prevention capabilities.

“Among the factors that we have identified is the need for mediation support for Elders, which will among other things include research and analysis on specific conflicts. To that effect, we shall be calling upon our civil society organizations because research and analysis is an area of strength for civil society”, the Secretary General pointed out.

During the fourth Summit of the COMESA Authority, a decision was made for COMESA to be formally involved in matters of peace and security. This was in recognition that conflicts in the sub-region were adversely affecting the regional integration agenda as there cannot be any sustainable development amid violent conflicts. The involvement of the private sector and civil society organizations on matters of peace and security on a consultative basis was then deemed as crucial.