Agreement between the Peul and Bozon communities of Kewa commune for the lifting of the blockade on Kouakourou (Mopti region)

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Country/entity: Mali
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement between the Peul and Bozon communities of Kewa commune for the lifting of the blockade on Kouakourou (Mopti region)
Date: 19 Jan 2019
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Mali: Dogon-Fulani and other local conflicts (2015 -)
An initially intercommunal conflict between Dogon and Fulani (known in Mali as Peulh) communities in the Mopti region in central Mali, which has strong regional and national dimensions as well. The conflict emerged in 2015 from disputes over access to natural resources and land management between traditionally sedentary agriculturalists, the Dogon community, and semi-nomadic pastoralists and traders, the Fulani community. Given the state’s failure in providing security, various communities, including the Dozo community, grouped into militias, with the umbrella group Dan Na Ambassagou (DNA) comprising Dogon local defence militias. The intercommunal violence that ensued quickly became a regional emergency crisis, as extremist groups emerging from the northern regions to gain a foothold in the region benefited from this security vacuum by reinforcing the conflict through recruiting local population. In turn, the threat of extremist attacks fed back into the establishment of local defence militias. The emergence of Malian extremists in the Mopti region has triggered the internationalization of the conflict witnessing the intervention of international security forces, main missions being a Joint Force by the G5 Sahel, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the French Operation Serval (SOV). Given Mali’s colonial historical relationship with France, these interventions have de facto further added to the complexities of this conflict’s drivers. Reconciliation efforts on both local and state level culminated in a ceasefire agreement in 2018. However, in the run up to the July 2018 elections the region saw an upsurge in violent clashes with civilians by communal militias, with increasing violent activities by Dozo militias. In 2019 there was a sharp increase of violent attacks by militias, militaries and extremists, with violence against civilians being most common.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Mali Local Processes
Parties: Page 3:
Signatory parties:

For the Peulh community
For the Bozo community

Agreement signed by at least two persons from each of the communities, signatures and names hand-written in original text.
Third parties: (Note: while not mentioned in the agreement, HD Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue have been facilitating this and similar agreements in Mali)
Description: In this agreement, the Peul and Bozon communities of Kewa commune agree to lift the blockade, reopen the weekly market, allow access to people and goods to the area. They further agree for the displaced persons to return, and commit to mediation. Finally, they agree to form a monitoring committee which is also intended to act as a conflict-resolution mechanism in the first instance.

Agreement document: ML_190119_Agreement between the Peul and Bozon communities of Kewa commune for the lifting of the blockade_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): ML_190119_Agreement between the Peul and Bozon communities of Kewa commune for the lifting of the blockade on Kouakourou (Mopti region).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: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 2:
Article 1: Commitments of the Parties
The Parties commit by this Agreement to:
...
Accepting the return of displaced people and working with the authorities to reintegrate them into working life
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): No specific mention.
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: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Other proportionality
Sub-state level
Page 2:
Article 3: Agreement monitoring
In order to monitor the implementation of this peace agreement, a monitoring committee is put in place. This will be composed of 10 members, including 5 representatives of the Peulh community and 5 representatives of the Bozo community.

Page 3:
The mission of this monitoring committee is to:
•   Monitor the implementation of this Agreement;
•   Prevent and resolve any disputes between the Parties;
•   Aid the two communities in order to ensure the widest possible adherence to this Agreement;
•   Maintain a dialogue with the representatives of the authorities and the defense and security forces in order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement and to strengthen its scope.
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: Page 2:
Article 1: Commitments of the Parties
The Parties commit by this Agreement to:
•   Taking all the necessary measures to lift the blockade on Kouakourou and to reopen the weekly Kouakourou market as soon as possible;
•   Facilitating the non-discriminated access of all communities to the weekly market and the Kouakourou health center,
•   Not contributing to the obstruction of free movement of people and their goods;

Page 2, Article 2:
The Parties also appeal to the Malian state to take all necessary measures for the security and free movement of people and their goods in the commune of Kewa.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: HD Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Available at https://www.hdcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Accord-Kouakourou.pdf (Accessed on 18/6/2020).

Agreement between the Peulh and Bozo communities of Kewa for lifting the blockade on Kouakourou (Mopti region)

January 2019

Preamble

We, Peulh and Bozo communities in the rural commune of Kewa, in the Mopti region of Mali, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

Aware that our respective communities have had strained relations for almost two years due to numerous kidnappings and tensions that have left more than a dozen dead, and that this situation is likely to lead to general conflict;

Remembering that the weekly market that used to supply necessities has not been held since September 2017.

Considering the deep crisis of confidence which has led to the blockade on the village of Kouakourou since August 2017 and that has led to inter-communal mistrust and danger to the population,

Aware that the atmosphere of general insecurity in the Mopti region leads to movement restrictions and impedes key economic activities, as well as degrades the standard of living of the Kouakourou communities,

Aware of the need to prioritize the common interest and to strengthen cohesion for better cohabitation;

Met in Kouakourou as part of the mediation undertaken for two months by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), on the mandate of the Government of Mali, to agree on the following:

Article 1:

Commitments of the Parties

The Parties commit by this Agreement to:

• Taking all the necessary measures to lift the blockade on Kouakourou and to reopen the weekly Kouakourou market as soon as possible;

• Facilitating the non-discriminated access of all communities to the weekly market and the Kouakourou health center,

• Not contributing to the obstruction of free movement of people and their goods;

• Fighting against banditry in all its forms;

• Accepting the return of displaced people and working with the authorities to reintegrate them into working life

• Firmly condemning any act which may call into question the provisions of this Agreement;

• Prioritizing mediation and dialogue to settle amicably any dispute between the Parties.

Article 2:

Support for authorities

The Parties request the defense and security forces present in Kouakourou to:

• Support the implementation of this Agreement in order to create conditions favorable to the return of peace between the Parties,

• Carry out all necessary investigations before any arrest,

The Parties also appeal to the Malian state to take all necessary measures for the security and free movement of people and their goods in the commune of Kewa.

Article 3:

Agreement monitoring

In order to monitor the implementation of this peace agreement, a monitoring committee is put in place.

This will be composed of 10 members, including 5 representatives of the Peulh community and 5 representatives of the Bozo community.

The mission of this monitoring committee is to:

• Monitor the implementation of this Agreement;

• Prevent and resolve any disputes between the Parties;

• Aid the two communities in order to ensure the widest possible adherence to this Agreement;

• Maintain a dialogue with the representatives of the authorities and the defense and security forces in order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement and to strengthen its scope.

Article 4:

Timeline

This Agreement comes into force on the date of signature.

Done in Kouakourou, January 19, 2019

Signatory parties:

For the Peulh community For the Bozo community