Publication

This report examines the ability of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to prevent conflict. More specifically, it examines the approaches and mechanisms ECCAS uses to anticipate and deter the escalation of violence and the outbreak of conflict, with a particular emphasis on the Central African Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC) and the Central African Multinational Force (FOMAC). In general, the author suggests that the ECCAS has a long way to go in preventing regional crises and that the obstacles to this include 1) ECCAS’ highly centralized structure; 2) its militaristic approach to security issues; and 3) unresolved issues over areas of responsibility in peace and security between the community and the African Union.