Agreement between Yafa’ai tribe security belt members and Lahj governorate officials to protect the roads

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Country/entity: Yemen
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Agreement between Yafa’ai tribe security belt members and Lahj governorate officials to protect the roads
Date: 22 Mar 2018
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Yemeni Civil Wars (1994) (2011 - )
The Republic of Yemen was formed in May 1990 after the merger between the Yemeni Arab Republic (YAR) in the north and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) in the south. The unification process was rushed and the final agreement between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and President Ali Salem al-Beidh was based on the imperfect promise of equality. Following the merger, integration of the militaries and civil services was at best incomplete or at times entirely non-existent. When Saleh’s General Congress Party (GPC) allied itself with the newly created Islamist Islah (‘reform’) party in 1993, the former ruling party of South Yemen – the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) – was effectively side-lined in the 1993 General Elections. Violence involving the use of heavy weaponry and aerial bombardment erupted in April 1994 and on the 21 May 1994 Vice President al-Beidh declared the secession of the south, citing political centralization with the northern highland tribes, violence against the YSP and economic discrimination. In the midst of fighting, negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, collapsed. The war ended with the military victory of the north, and on the 1 October 1994, Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected President.

Despite the unification of Yemen in 1990, political power during the 1990s and 2000s remained centralized with the northern highland tribes, particularly the villages from which President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his confidants stemmed. The system of clientelism established through the ruling General People’s Congress party maintained relative loyalty among the fractured political allegiances of Yemen’s traditional tribal leadership. However, diminishing oil reserves and the shrinking opportunities for access to rent increased economic and political marginalization in Yemen’s peripheral communities. The degree of regionalism of conflicts is further defined by other local grievances. In the northern governorate of Sa’dah, a backlash was provoked among the local Zaydi Shi’a against Sunni Salafist cultural incursions resulting in six wars between 2004 and 2010. In the southern governorates of Hadramawt, Shabwa, al-Dhali and Abyan, civil and military personnel forcibly retired after the 1994 Civil War began protesting and eventually formed the secessionist Southern ‘al-Hiraak’ movement in 2007. Furthermore, tribal grievances have spurred attacks on oil companies and government installations to extract rents. Various takfiri groups including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have also increased their presence since 1995.

The Yemen Spring in early 2011 allowed all these movements to express their joint displeasure. Moreover, factionalism in the regime split the already weak military and thus allowed the Houthis, the takfiris and tribal-based militia known as popular committees, to assert themselves militarily. Mandated by the UN-sponsored Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the National Dialogue held from March 2013 to January 2014 aimed at guaranteeing power-sharing among the different parties. However, the GCC Initiative only included formal political parties that did not accurately reflect political realities. Furthermore, provisions lacked adequate transitional justice and provided former-President Saleh, as well as others, full amnesty. As a result, little faith was placed in the process by formerly marginalized groups such as the Zaydi Shia Houthi rebels (Ansar Allah) and al-Hiraak who opted to increase their bargaining power vis-à-vis the state by strengthening their own territorial enclaves. In September 2014 the Houthis succeeded in capturing the capital Sana’a and gradually expanded their control southward. The subsequent UN-mediated Peace and National Partnership Agreement between transitional president Hadi and the Houthis on a federal, democratic Yemeni state, failed to be implemented as the Houthis successfully dissolved the parliament and deposed Hadi in January 2015. Following the Saudi military intervention to restore the Hadi government in March 2015, ceasefire attempts continuously failed. A two-year deadlock ensued until negotiations between the Houthis and the government of Yemen finally culminated in the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018. However, throughout 2019 the Saudi-led coalition continues to launch airstrikes. Furthermore, in May 2017 the Southern al-Hiraak movement had declared the secessionist formation of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), seizing the interim-capital Aden by January 2018. Territorial divisions between the Yemeni government, the Houthis, forces affiliated with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, local militias and tribes have continued to fracture the country.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Yemen Inter-group Agreements
Parties: Local Yafa'ai tribe as part of Security belt forces and Governorate officials in Lahj governorate.

Governor of the province [signature]

Director of Security for Lahij Governorate [signature]

Commander of the Security Belt, Lahij Governorate and Yafa’ sector [signature]

Director General of Laabos Directorate [signature]

Director General of al- Hadd Directorate [signature]

Director General of Yahr Directorate [signature]

General Director of al-Maflahi Directorate [signature]

Commander of Laabos security [signature]

Commander of al-Hadd security [signature]

Commander of Yahr security [signature]

Commander of al-Maflahi Security [signature]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, Laabos Directorate [signature]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, al- Hadd Directorate [signature]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, al-Maflahi Directorate [signature]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, Yahr Directorate [signature]
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement which provides for the protection of key roads in Lahj governorate, including acts of banditry and destruction of roads. The agreement provides for a range of detailed measures in the interest of preserving roads for public interests, setting out a system of public reporting and commensurate fines.

Agreement document: YE_180322_Agreement between Yafa’ai tribe security belt members and Lahj governorate officials to protect the roads_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): YE_180322_Agreement between Yafa’ai tribe security belt members and Lahj governorate officials to protect the roads_AR.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): 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: Page 1, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

2 - All endorse the protection of the main four pass roads from each side based on previous decisions made by the local councils during construction (taking into account the geographical nature of the district of Yahr in the de facto places outside the asphalt line, according to the view of officials there, for the public interest.

Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

5- It is firmly prohibited to damage the asphalt line with random excavations to pass water, electricity, or other items. Also, it is prohibited to work or construct any hump or waterline except with an official license from the public works department and following the guidance of the director general of the directorate, and in an engineering and civilized manner, and ensuring the removal of random humps

Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

10 - The Works and Roads Department in the directorates, along with the security apparatus and the security belt, and in coordination with the directors of the general directorates, shall supervise and monitor all of the above, to control [future] violations, limit previous violations, and deal with them decisively and responsibly in a way that [help] achieve the safety of the general and secondary roads and [بالمخالفات التماثل وعدم [and all citizens have to report any new violation.
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: Page 1, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

1 - All acknowledges banning and outlawing all kind of attacks on the main and secondary roads, and no group or individual has the right to attack or disrupt them, for whatever the reason, because they are public routes that serve everyone and are a red line and it is forbidden to narrow or attack them from any party, group, or people.
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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 1, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

2 - All endorse the protection of the main four pass roads from each side based on previous decisions made by the local councils during construction (taking into account the geographical nature of the district of Yahr in the de facto places outside the asphalt line, according to the view of officials there, for the public interest.

Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

5- It is firmly prohibited to damage the asphalt line with random excavations to pass water, electricity, or other items. Also, it is prohibited to work or construct any hump or waterline except with an official license from the public works department and following the guidance of the director general of the directorate, and in an engineering and civilized manner, and ensuring the removal of random humps.

Page 3, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

11- This letter and what has been agreed upon will be copied for the relevant authorities in the four directorates, local councils, notables, leaders of the movement, social figures, all concerned people, and citizens in general, and everyone is concerned to preserve the main and secondary road lines, and stop assaulting or damaging them, and to immediately report any attack to the concerned authorities to stop and hold any violator accountable, and applying fines and the appropriate penalty for each violation, removing any innovations or obstacles.
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: Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

5- It is firmly prohibited to damage the asphalt line with random excavations to pass water, electricity, or other items. Also, it is prohibited to work or construct any hump or waterline except with an official license from the public works department and following the guidance of the director general of the directorate, and in an engineering and civilized manner, and ensuring the removal of random humps.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

1 - All acknowledges banning and outlawing all kind of attacks on the main and secondary roads, and no group or individual has the right to attack or disrupt them, for whatever the reason, because they are public routes that serve everyone and are a red line and it is forbidden to narrow or attack them from any party, group, or people.

Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

10 - The Works and Roads Department in the directorates, along with the security apparatus and the security belt, and in coordination with the directors of the general directorates, shall supervise and monitor all of the above, to control [future] violations, limit previous violations, and deal with them decisively and responsibly in a way that [help] achieve the safety of the general and secondary roads and [بالمخالفات التماثل وعدم [and all citizens have to report any new violation.

11- This letter and what has been agreed upon will be copied for the relevant authorities in the four directorates, local councils, notables, leaders of the movement, social figures, all concerned people, and citizens in general, and everyone is concerned to preserve the main and secondary road lines, and stop assaulting or damaging them, and to immediately report any attack to the concerned authorities to stop and hold any violator accountable, and applying fines and the appropriate penalty for each violation, removing any innovations or obstacles.
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: Page 1, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

1 - All acknowledges banning and outlawing all kind of attacks on the main and secondary roads, and no group or individual has the right to attack or disrupt them, for whatever the reason, because they are public routes that serve everyone and are a red line and it is forbidden to narrow or attack them from any party, group, or people.

Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

7 - It is firmly prohibited to assault roads and sub-gravel roads, or damage approved plans (the current existing roads), or prevent repairing, maintaining, paving, and asphalting, and every directorate, region and village concerned, has to report damage or assaults [carried out] by any party or persons. The concerned authorities shall respond to any report quickly.
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: Page 2, The Subject: Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’

10 - The Works and Roads Department in the directorates, along with the security apparatus and the security belt, and in coordination with the directors of the general directorates, shall supervise and monitor all of the above, to control [future] violations, limit previous violations, and deal with them decisively and responsibly in a way that [help] achieve the safety of the general and secondary roads and [بالمخالفات التماثل وعدم [and all citizens have to report any new violation.

11- This letter and what has been agreed upon will be copied for the relevant authorities in the four directorates, local councils, notables, leaders of the movement, social figures, all concerned people, and citizens in general, and everyone is concerned to preserve the main and secondary road lines, and stop assaulting or damaging them, and to immediately report any attack to the concerned authorities to stop and hold any violator accountable, and applying fines and the appropriate penalty for each violation, removing any innovations or obstacles.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: https://almashhadalaraby.com/news/24082

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Yemeni Republic Date / / 2018

Ministry of Local Administration Attached ….

[Official logo of the Republic of Yemen]

Lahij Governorate Reference ...

Praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon His truthful and faithful Messenger Muhammad, may God bless him, and upon his good and pure family and companions .... and after:

- The Subject:

Protection of public roads and the secondary roads of Yafa’ Based on what was agreed upon in a previous meeting of general directors, security directors, public officials of Works Department, roads, social figures, notables, leaders of the movement, and those involved in all four Yafa' districts that are administratively affiliated to Lahij governorate in the house of Sheikh alNaqib.

To protect and provide safety of the public roads, it was agreed on the following:

- 1 - All acknowledges banning and outlawing all kind of attacks on the main and secondary roads, and no group or individual has the right to attack or disrupt them, for whatever the reason, because they are public routes that serve everyone and are a red line and it is forbidden to narrow or attack them from any party, group, or people.

2 - All endorse the protection of the main four pass roads from each side based on previous decisions made by the local councils during construction (taking into account the geographical nature of the district of Yahr in the de facto places outside the asphalt line, according to the view of officials there, for the public interest.

3 - It is firmly prohibited to narrow public roads or block them on the sides with any barriers, even temporary, be construction materials, equipment, or any other materials.

4 - In the narrow spaces where there is no adequate protection, as a de facto situation, paragraph (2) of leaving four meters in cases of construction, and paragraph (3) not to install fixed or temporary barriers.

5- It is firmly prohibited to damage the asphalt line with random excavations to pass water, electricity, or other items.

Also, it is prohibited to work or construct any hump or waterline except with an official license from the public works department and following the guidance of the director general of the directorate, and in an engineering and civilized manner, and ensuring the removal of random humps.

6- It is firmly prohibited to issue building permissions near public roads, be residential or commercial, except after [obtaining] the guarantee and the commitment of the beneficiary not to overtake and disturb public streets and to protect them with barriers [during construction times].

7 - It is firmly prohibited to assault roads and sub-gravel roads, or damage approved plans (the current existing roads), or prevent repairing, maintaining, paving, and asphalting, and every directorate, region and village concerned, has to report damage or assaults [carried out] by any party or persons.

The concerned authorities shall respond to any report quickly.

8- It is firmly prohibited to throw garbage and dead animals on the main and secondary roads or on the sides [of the streets] or nearby places.

All must preserve the public decency, appearance, and positive image, and the environment to reflect a positive image of the area and its people.

9- As for public markets, it is necessary to regulate and keep them clean, and organize parking procedures, and not allowing trucks to unload cargo before two o'clock in the afternoon to facilitate car traffics in the markets, and traffic and security officers must organize this.

10 - The Works and Roads Department in the directorates, along with the security apparatus and the security belt, and in coordination with the directors of the general directorates, shall supervise and monitor all of the above, to control [future] violations, limit previous violations, and deal with them decisively and responsibly in a way that [help] achieve the safety of the general and secondary roads and [بالمخالفات التماثل وعدم [and all citizens have to report any new violation.

11- This letter and what has been agreed upon will be copied for the relevant authorities in the four directorates, local councils, notables, leaders of the movement, social figures, all concerned people, and citizens in general, and everyone is concerned to preserve the main and secondary road lines, and stop assaulting or damaging them, and to immediately report any attack to the concerned authorities to stop and hold any violator accountable, and applying fines and the appropriate penalty for each violation, removing any innovations or obstacles.

This and Allah is the arbiter of success Governor of the province

[signature] [stamp] Director of Security for Lahij Governorate

[signature] [stamp] Commander of the Security Belt,

Lahij Governorate and Yafa’ sector [signature] [stamp]

Director General of Laabos Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Director General of al- Hadd Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Director General of Yahr Directorate [signature] [stamp]

General Director of al-Maflahi Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Commander of Laabos security [signature] [stamp]

Commander of al-Hadd security [signature] [stamp]

Commander of Yahr security [signature] [stamp]

Commander of al-Maflahi Security [signature] [stamp]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, Laabos Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, al- Hadd Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, al-Maflahi Directorate [signature] [stamp]

Director of Public Works and Roads Department, Yahr Directorate [signature] [stamp]