Peace Agreement between the Dogon & Peulh communities of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro

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Country/entity: Mali
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Peace Agreement between the Dogon & Peulh communities of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro
Date: 12 Jan 2021
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: For the Dogon community:
Souleymane Dougnon, advisor to the village chief of Dangatene
Yessa Djimde, president of the Koro village chiefs' coordination
Allaye Niangaly, village chief of Omon
Soumalia Perou, village chief of Poudourou
Serou Niangaly, village chief of Bondo
Alhadji Dougnon, village chief of Torou
Amadou Agnou, village chief of Am
Hamadoun Guindo, village chief of Gourthi [illegible]

For the Fulani community
Mamoudou Alpha Barry, village chief of Yorou
Moussa Hassimi Barry, community leader
Boureima Barry, community leader
Michailou Amadou Barry, village chief of Gourthi
Allaye Oumar Barry, community leader
Amadou Guindo, community leader
Third parties: Witnesses:
First witness, Allaye Teme, vice-president of Monobem
Second witness, Nouh Djeme, vice-president of Recotrade

[unsigned mediator: HD Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and Monobem association]
Description: This is one of three agreements signed between the Fulani and Dogon with humanitarian objectives on 12, 22 and 24 January 2021, led by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and the community association Monobèm. Through these agreements, the communities further commit to ensuring the physical integrity and free circulation of persons, goods, and livestock, while condemning the violence in the circle of Koro, in Central Mali. In this agreement, the representatives of the local communities agree to facilitate circulation of people and goods, access to lands and roads, attendance of markets, and access to NGOs, while at the same time committing to not carrying weapons.

Agreement document: ML_210112_Peace Agreement between the Dogon & Peulh communities of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): ML_210112_Peace Agreement between the Dogon & Peulh communities of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro_FR.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: Groups→Religious groups→Rhetorical
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
l) Respect the habits and customs of the different communities and places of worship;
m) Respect the moral authority of traditional religious authorities who, before the crisis, preserved social cohesion and eased social tensions.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
d) Support and facilitate the return of all displaced persons;
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: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
k) Encourage the return of basic social services and the circulation of NGOs in the areas affected by the agreement;
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
m) Respect the moral authority of traditional religious authorities who, before the crisis, preserved social cohesion and eased social tensions.

Page 6:
Chapter VI: Dispute management
[...]
Article 11: In the event of failure to apply the solution identified in a consensual manner with the Monitoring Committee, the Parties will jointly refer to traditional and religious dispute management mechanisms.
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: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
b)   Facilitate the free movement of people and their goods throughout the three municipalities;
[...]
e)   Encourage and facilitate market attendance by all communities;
[...]
j)   Facilitate the free use of natural and land resources by all communities (fields, pastures, passageways, travel stops, etc.);
k)   Encourage the return of basic social services and the circulation of NGOs in the areas affected by the agreement;
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: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
m) Respect the moral authority of traditional religious authorities who, before the crisis, preserved social cohesion and eased social tensions.

Page 6:
Chapter VI: Dispute management
[...]
Article 11: In the event of failure to apply the solution identified in a consensual manner with the Monitoring Committee, the Parties will jointly refer to traditional and religious dispute management mechanisms.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
j) Facilitate the free use of natural and land resources by all communities (fields, pastures, passageways, travel stops, etc.);
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
b) Facilitate the free movement of people and their goods throughout the three municipalities;
[...]
e) Encourage and facilitate market attendance by all communities;
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Other land rights
Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
j) Facilitate the free use of natural and land resources by all communities (fields, pastures, passageways, travel stops, etc.);
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
b)   Facilitate the free movement of people and their goods throughout the three municipalities;
c)   Encourage the establishment of measures of reciprocal confidence between communities (restitution of animals, condemnation of thieves, etc.);[...]
h)   Oppose cattle theft regardless of the owner's community and facilitate the search for stolen goods and animals so that they can be returned to their owner;
i)   Not claim animals and property removed or lost during the conflict ;
j)   Facilitate the free use of natural and land resources by all communities (fields, pastures, passageways, travel stops, etc.);
Cultural heritage: Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Intangible
Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
l) Respect the habits and customs of the different communities and places of worship;
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: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 4,
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties

Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
...
f) Not carry weapons in villages and towns
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: Transitional justice→Reparations→Material reparations
Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
[...]
h) Oppose cattle theft regardless of the owner's community and facilitate the search for stolen goods and animals so that they can be returned to their owner;
i) Not claim animals and property removed or lost during the conflict ;
Reconciliation: Page 4:
Chapter III: Commitments of the Parties
Article 4: The Parties jointly undertake to:
a) Encourage community leaders to commit to peace by forgiving all past acts and by spreading messages of cohesion and appeasement;

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 5-6:
Chapter V: Monitoring of the implementation

Article 6: The Parties undertake to meet once a quarter during the first year following the signing of this Agreement to take stock of the implementation of the Agreement and, if necessary, renew and adjust the commitments.

Article 7: A Monitoring Committee will be set up, whose mission is to:

a)   Regularly update the Parties on the progress made in implementing the commitments made under this Agreement to strengthen its scope;
b)   Prevent and manage disputes between the Parties that may lead to non-compliance with this Agreement;
c)   Identify, if necessary, additional measures necessary for the inter-communal reconciliation process.
d)   Regularly update the State authorities on the progress made in implementing the commitments made under this Agreement to strengthen its scope;

Article 8: 10 members appointed by consensus to represent all of the Peulh and Dogon communities will make up the Monitoring Committee. This will be composed of 5 representatives of the Peulh community and 5 representatives of the Dogon community.

Chapter VI: Dispute management
Article 9: The parties will do everything in their power to settle amicably and by negotiation any dispute arising between them, in the spirit of cooperation and friendship which underlies this peace agreement.
Article 10: In the event of a breach of the application of this Agreement or the event of a dispute relating to its interpretation, the Parties will refer the matter to the Monitoring Committee so that a consensual solution is identified and applied.
Article 11: In the event of failure to apply the solution identified in a consensual manner with the Monitoring Committee, the Parties will jointly refer to traditional and religious dispute management mechanisms.
Article 12: In the event of a serious breach of the application of this Agreement, and of a failure of all attempts at negotiation to remedy it, the Parties may terminate this Agreement. Such termination will take effect on a specified termination date. In this case, the Parties will take all necessary measures to minimize the impact of such a decision on the peace efforts already undertaken.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: The agreement was sourced from the HD Centre website, at https://www.hdcentre.org/updates/three-peace-agreements-signed-between-the-fulani-and-dogon-of-the-area-circle-of-koro-in-central-mali/ (Accessed on 26/4/2021)

Peace Agreement between the Dogon & Peulh communities of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro

Koro Circle, Mali

January 2021

Preamble

We, the Dogon and Peulh communities of the communes of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro, in the Koro Circle, Mali, hereinafter referred to as the Parties;

Aware that the conflict between us since 2017 is fueling the security crisis that is devastating the region;

Taking into account the results of previous reconciliation efforts led by our communities, the State, collectives, associations, and the various attempts by the High Islamic Council of Koro.

Taking into account the peace agreement between the Dogon and Peulh communities of Koro signed in August 2018, following the unilateral ceasefire of Dana Amassagou facilitated by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and the reciprocal commitment of the Peulh community.

Determined to strengthen the first commitments agreed on during the preparatory inter-communal meetings facilitated by Monobèm de Madougou on February 23, 2020, Binédama on April 16, 2020, Anagadia on June 24, 2020, Karakindé on May 22, 2020, and Laiwaikandé on July 28, 2020, in the municipality of Madougou, which involved 107 villages in the communes of the Sangha and Dourou, and inter-communal meetings facilitated since September 2020 in Dangatène, Madougou, Toroli, and Pel;

Recalling that in the past the Dogon and Peulh communities coexisted peacefully in the Koro Circle communes of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro, despite the tensions that have always existed between our communities concerning the management of resources natural that we share;

Aware that these tensions are exacerbated by the high level of insecurity throughout the Dogon plateau, Senno and Gondo and that the current conflict has led to the end of economic activities, mass killings in 2018, and even the restriction of the free movement of people and their goods;

Aware that the conflict involving members of our respective communities may not end immediately with the signing of this Agreement, but will require a constant commitment on our part to peacefully manage disputes;

Determined to work to improve peaceful coexistence between our communities;

Gathered in Dangatènè on January 12, 2021, as part of the mediation co-facilitated since September 2020 by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Monobèm association, which brings together all the communities of the municipalities concerned;

We agree as follows:

Chapter I:

General Points

Article 1:

With this Agreement, the Parties declare peace between them and commit to making every effort to maintain it.

Chapter II:

Causes and consequences of the conflict

Article 2:

The Parties agree that the inter-communal conflict between them across their municipalities is the result of the following elements:

a) Repeated attacks and looting of villages and hamlets by armed individuals;

b) Targeted assassinations of influential figures;

c) Massive cattle theft by both parties;

d) Attacks and ambushes against market stalls;

e) Embargoes on certain villages, water points, weekly markets, and the marketing of certain products (cereals, cattle, and milk),

f) Closure of basic social services (schools, health center, distribution stores, etc.),

g) Withdrawal of state agents and defense and security forces in all municipalities;

h) The feeling on both sides that the neighboring community has joined forces with armed groups to attack the other;

i) Lack of impartiality of the defense and security forces;

j) Lack of justice after cases of extrajudicial abuses;

k) Frustration due to unresolved or poorly resolved inter-communal conflicts on access to natural resources, etc.

Article 3:

The Parties agree that the inter-communal conflict between them in their municipalities has had the following consequences since the end of 2017:

a) The death of more than 300 people;

b) The displacement of more than 9000 people from 2017 to 2020;

c) The theft of 2500 heads of cattle;

d) Embargos on the markets of Dangaténé, Bondo and Koro;

e) Restrictions on access to cultivable land in Koro, Djoungani and

Bondo;

f) Movement restrictions between the municipalities of Koro, Bondo, and Djoungani.

Chapter III:

Commitments of the Parties

Article 4:

The Parties jointly undertake to:

a) Encourage community leaders to commit to peace by forgiving all past acts and by spreading messages of cohesion and appeasement;

b) Facilitate the free movement of people and their goods throughout the three municipalities;

c) Encourage the establishment of measures of reciprocal confidence between communities (restitution of animals, condemnation of thieves, etc.);

d) Support and facilitate the return of all displaced persons;

e) Encourage and facilitate market attendance by all communities;

f) Not carry weapons in villages and towns

g) Invite the monitoring committee to dialogue with those who act against the spirit of the Agreement;

h) Oppose cattle theft regardless of the owner's community and facilitate the search for stolen goods and animals so that they can be returned to their owner;

i) Not claim animals and property removed or lost during the conflict ;

j) Facilitate the free use of natural and land resources by all communities (fields, pastures, passageways, travel stops, etc.);

k) Encourage the return of basic social services and the circulation of NGOs in the areas affected by the agreement;

l) Respect the habits and customs of the different communities and places of worship;

m) Respect the moral authority of traditional religious authorities who, before the crisis, preserved social cohesion and eased social tensions.

Chapter IV:

Recommendations addressed to the State

Article 5:

The Parties request that the State support their peace efforts in the Koro Circle communes of Bondo, Dioungani, and Koro.

More specifically for the benefit of peaceful inter-communal coexistence, the Parties call on the State to:

a) Encourage the rehabilitation of destroyed villages;

b) With the support of partners, facilitate the return of displaced persons;

c) Provide humanitarian, economic, and food assistance to all communities affected by the crisis for economic recovery in the area;

d) Open a dialogue with armed groups to agree on a negotiated outcome for the young people who have renounced their weapons;

e) Build, repair, and provide communities with basic social infrastructure (water points, health centers, seeds, schools, etc.);

f) Help strengthen the legitimacy of traditional and religious authorities in their missions of pacification and citizen watch.

Chapter V:

Monitoring of the implementation

Article 6:

The Parties undertake to meet once a quarter during the first year following the signing of this Agreement to take stock of the implementation of the Agreement and, if necessary, renew and adjust the commitments.

Article 7:

A Monitoring Committee will be set up, whose mission is to:

a) Regularly update the Parties on the progress made in implementing the commitments made under this Agreement to strengthen its scope;

b) Prevent and manage disputes between the Parties that may lead to non-compliance with this Agreement;

c) Identify, if necessary, additional measures necessary for the inter-communal reconciliation process.

d) Regularly update the State authorities on the progress made in implementing the commitments made under this Agreement to strengthen its scope;

Article 8:

10 members appointed by consensus to represent all of the Peulh and Dogon communities will make up the Monitoring Committee.

This will be composed of 5 representatives of the Peulh community and 5 representatives of the Dogon community.

Chapter VI:

Dispute management

Article 9:

The parties will do everything in their power to settle amicably and by negotiation any dispute arising between them, in the spirit of cooperation and friendship which underlies this peace agreement.

Article 10:

In the event of a breach of the application of this Agreement or the event of a dispute relating to its interpretation, the Parties will refer the matter to the Monitoring Committee so that a consensual solution is identified and applied.

Article 11:

In the event of failure to apply the solution identified in a consensual manner with the Monitoring Committee, the Parties will jointly refer to traditional and religious dispute management mechanisms.

Article 12:

In the event of a serious breach of the application of this Agreement, and of a failure of all attempts at negotiation to remedy it, the Parties may terminate this Agreement.

Such termination will take effect on a specified termination date.

In this case, the Parties will take all necessary measures to minimize the impact of such a decision on the peace efforts already undertaken.

Chapter VII:

Final provisions

Article 13:

The Parties sign this Agreement in 5 copies in French and will try to translate them into Fulfuldé, Dogosso, and Bamanakan for better understanding.

Article 14:

This Agreement shall enter into force from the date of its signature by the Parties.

Done in Dangatene, 12/01/2021