Addis Ababa Agreement

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Country/entity: Comoros
Anjouan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Addis Ababa Agreement
Date: 13 Dec 1997
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Anjouan Crisis (1997 - 2008)
The two islands of Anjouan and Mohéli seceded from the Comoros in 1997, with Anjouan unilaterally declaring independence. In the aftermath of this declaration, political infighting emerged and several coup attempts in Anjouan took place. In 2001, a junta led my Mohamed Bacar was able to consolidate power and he began negotiations with the Comoros. These negotiations resulted in the establishment of a renewed Union of the Comoros with a peace agreement constitution. After the end of his formal term, Bacar launched another coup against his successor, declaring independence again in July 2007. In February 2008, the Comoros army, supported by France and members of the African Union, invaded the island and forced Bacar to leave and the declaration of independence to be withdrawn.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Comoros-Anjouan islands peace process
Parties: The Comorian parties (the Government, Anjouan, Moheli and Grande Comore, and the Opposition: Forum/Federation/PRC and National Union for Development/National Front for Justice)

For the delegation of Ndzuwani (Anjouan):
Ali MOUMINE

For the delegation of Mwali (Moheli):
Mohamed FAZUL

For the delegation of Ngazidja (Grande Comore):
Ali Abdou EL ANIOU

For the delegation of the Opposition
Forum/Federation/PRC:
Moustoifa Said CHEIKH Mohamed Said MCHANGAMA

For the delegation of the National Union for Development/
National Front for Justice:
Ahmed Elarif HAMIDI Tolbrane HOUMADI

For the delegation of the Government: Mouzaoir ABDALLAH
Third parties: (a) The member States of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burkina Faso);
(b) The countries of the region (Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania);
(c) The permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America);
(d) the League of Arab States;
(e) The United Nations;
(f) The European Union.

Signatories
For the Organization of African Unity:
Ambassador Pierre L. YERE Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of OAU to the Comoros
Description: Through this agreement, parties (1) request the establishment of an international commission of inquiry for crimes committed during the crisis; (2) call for an Inter-Island Comorian Conference with a view to defining a new institutional framework meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Comorians; (3) and agree to establish a commission in charge of implementing the Agreement.

Agreement document: KM_971213_AddisAbabaAgreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, Article 3:
The Comorian parties agreed to hold, as soon as possible, under the auspices of OAU and according to the format of the Addis Ababa International Conference, an Inter-Island Comorian Conference with a view to defining a new institutional framework meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Comorians. In this regard, the Comorian parties noted the firm position expressed by OAU, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union on the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2, Article 6:
The Comorian parties took note with satisfaction of the decision of OAU, in cooperation with the international community, particularly the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union, to convene a round table of donors with a view to mobilizing international assistance for the development of the Comoros. In the meantime, they appeal for urgent assistance to the Comoros.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: Page 1, Article 2:
The Comorian parties pondered the situation existing in their country, particularly the crisis in Anjouan and Moheli. In that regard, they deeply regretted the military actions carried out in the two islands of Anjouan and Moheli, as well as the loss of human lives, injuries and destruction of property. Consequently, they requested the establishment of an international commission of inquiry, which would be requested to identify the responsibilities, evaluate the damage caused on the two islands during the crisis and propose measures likely to enable the victims to obtain the necessary compensation.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: Page 1, Article 2:
The Comorian parties pondered the situation existing in their country, particularly the crisis in Anjouan and Moheli. In that regard, they deeply regretted the military actions carried out in the two islands of Anjouan and Moheli, as well as the loss of human lives, injuries and destruction of property. Consequently, they requested the establishment of an international commission of inquiry, which would be requested to identify the responsibilities, evaluate the damage caused on the two islands during the crisis and propose measures likely to enable the victims to obtain the necessary compensation.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: Transitional justice→Reparations→Material reparations
Page 1, Article 2:
The Comorian parties pondered the situation existing in their country, particularly the crisis in Anjouan and Moheli. In that regard, they deeply regretted the military actions carried out in the two islands of Anjouan and Moheli, as well as the loss of human lives, injuries and destruction of property. Consequently, they requested the establishment of an international commission of inquiry, which would be requested to identify the responsibilities, evaluate the damage caused on the two islands during the crisis and propose measures likely to enable the victims to obtain the necessary compensation.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: With the participation of official observers, representing: … (e) The United Nations
Other international signatory: (a) The member States of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burkina Faso);
(b) The countries of the region (Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania);
(c) The permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America);
(d) the League of Arab States;
(e) The United Nations;
(f) The European Union.

Signatories:
For the Organization of African Unity:
Ambassador Pierre L. YERE Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of OAU to the Comoros
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, Article 3:
The Comorian parties agreed to hold, as soon as possible, under the auspices of OAU and according to the format of the Addis Ababa International Conference, an Inter-Island Comorian Conference with a view to defining a new institutional framework meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Comorians. In this regard, the Comorian parties noted the firm position expressed by OAU, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union on the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros.

Page 2, Article 5:
The Comorian parties agreed to establish a commission in charge of implementing the Agreement, comprising the representatives of all the Comorian parties to the International Conference and chaired by OAU.

Page 2, Article 6:
The Comorian parties took note with satisfaction of the decision of OAU, in cooperation with the international community, particularly the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union, to convene a round table of donors with a view to mobilizing international assistance for the development of the Comoros. In the meantime, they appeal for urgent assistance to the Comoros.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 2, Article 5:
The Comorian parties agreed to establish a commission in charge of implementing the Agreement, comprising the representatives of all the Comorian parties to the International Conference and chaired by OAU.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Addis Ababa Agreement adopted at the International Conference on the Comoros, held in Addis Ababa from 10 to 13 December 1997

1. The Comorian parties (the Government, Anjouan, Moheli and Grande Comore,

and the Opposition:

Forum/Federation/PRC and National Union for Development/National Front for Justice) met in Addis Ababa within the framework of the International Conference on the Comoros, organized under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) from 10 to 13 December 1997, with the participation of official observers, representing:

(a) The member States of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burkina Faso);

(b) The countries of the region (Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania);

(c) The permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America);

(d) the League of Arab States;

(e) The United Nations;

(f) The European Union.

2. The Comorian parties pondered the situation existing in their country, particularly the crisis in Anjouan and Moheli.

In that regard, they deeply regretted the military actions carried out in the two islands of Anjouan and Moheli, as well as the loss of human lives, injuries and destruction of property.

Consequently, they requested the establishment of an international commission of inquiry, which would be requested to identify the responsibilities, evaluate the damage caused on the two islands during the crisis and propose measures likely to enable the victims to obtain the necessary compensation.

3. The Comorian parties agreed to hold, as soon as possible, under the auspices of OAU and according to the format of the Addis Ababa International Conference, an Inter-Island Comorian Conference with a view to defining a new institutional framework meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Comorians.

In this regard, the Comorian parties noted the firm position expressed by OAU, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union on the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros.

4. The Comorian parties pledged to continue their dialogue with a view to establishing the conditions conducive to the convening of the proposed Conference.

5. The Comorian parties agreed to establish a commission in charge of implementing the Agreement, comprising the representatives of all the Comorian parties to the International Conference and chaired by OAU.

6. The Comorian parties took note with satisfaction of the decision of OAU, in cooperation with the international community, particularly the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the European Union, to convene a round table of donors with a view to mobilizing international assistance for the development of the Comoros.

In the meantime, they appeal for urgent assistance to the Comoros.

Done in Addis Ababa, 13 December 1997, in the presence of the official observers.

For the delegation of For the delegation of Ndzuwani (Anjouan): Mwali (Moheli):

Ali MOUMINE Mohamed FAZUL

For the delegation of Ngazidja

(Grande Comore):

Ali Abdou EL ANIOU

For the delegation of For the delegation of the the Opposition National Union for Development/

Forum/Federation/PRC:

National Front for Justice:

Moustoifa Said CHEIKH Ahmed Elarif HAMIDI

Mohamed Said MCHANGAMA Tolbrane HOUMADI

For the delegation of the Government:

Mouzaoir ABDALLAH

For the Organization of African Unity:

Ambassador Pierre L. YERE

Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of OAU to the Comoros