General Agreement on National Reconciliation (Fomboni Agreement)

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Country/entity: Comoros
Anjouan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: General Agreement on National Reconciliation (Fomboni Agreement)
Date: 17 Feb 2001
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members of the African Union, invaded the island and forced Bacar to leave and the declaration of independence to be withdrawn.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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Comoros-Anjouan islands peace process
Parties: For the Comorian Parties: Mohamed Fazul, Lt. Col. Said Abied, Abbas Djoussouf, Ali Toihiri, Saidali Bacar, Issamidine Adaine, Col. Azali Assouman
For the international community: The organisation of African Unity (Francisco J.C. Madeira), The International Organisation of la Francophonie (Andre Salifou).
Third parties: Signature:
For the international community: The organisation of African Unity (Francisco J.C. Madeira), The International Organisation of la Francophonie (Andre Salifou).

Organisation of the African Unity supported by the International Organisation of la Francophonie and the European Union and in the presence of the League of the Arab States and the United Nations,
Description: Agreement sets up a new Comorian Ensemble and a power-sharing mechanism between the Ensemble and the islands, which will be granted the freedom to manage their own affairs. The constitution outlines which responsibilities will be divided between the Ensemble and the Islands. The agreement goes on to outline the Tripartite committee which is responsible for defining the tasks of the new Ensemble as well as an independent National Electoral Committee.

Agreement document: KM_010217_General Agreement on National Reconciliation (Fomboni Agreement).pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Substantive
Page 3, ii) FUNCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
9, The Committee should:
... ii) initiate a sub-committee in charge of the collection of arms and of the reintegration of young people;
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→Substantive
Page 3, 4. WE AGREE that the Constitution will determine the fields of competence of the Ensemble and of the Islands. However, the prerogatives relating to the sovereignty of the State (religion, nationality, currency, foreign relations and exterior defence) and the national symbols (the flag, the national anthem, the national emblems) are within the competence exclusively of the New Comorian Ensemble.
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, 2. WE APPROVE, by this present General Agreement, the organisation of a New Comorian Ensemble, sole subject of international right, founded on the respect of national unity and the intangibility of the frontiers of the Comoros such as they are internationally acknowledged, in accordance with the resolution CM/Res.419 (XXV) concerning the admission of the Comoros to the Organisation of African Unity 18 July, 1975, and the resolution 3385 (XXX) of 12 November, 1975, concerning its admission to the United Nations.
State configuration: [Summary] Agreement specifies on two occassions the importance of sharing power between the Ensemble and the Islands.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: Page 4, I. INSTRUMENTS:
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
...
11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:
...
iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;
...
B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
...
...
ii) On the level of the Islands
17. The period of transition will respect the following time-table:
June, 2001 at the latest: Constitutional Referendum

Page 5, III. GUARANTEES:
18. Within seven (7) days after the proclamation of the results of the constitutional referendum the Head of State will form the transitional Government of national unity mentioned in clause 15 above.

Page 6, V. FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM
27. ... In this respect, the representatives of the international community could make all suggestions, particularly for the Constitution to be submitted to a referendum within the given time limits.
State symbols: Page 3, 4. WE AGREE that the Constitution will determine the fields of competence of the Ensemble and of the Islands. However, the prerogatives relating to the sovereignty of the State (religion, nationality, currency, foreign relations and exterior defence) and the national symbols (the flag, the national anthem, the national emblems) are within the competence exclusively of the New Comorian Ensemble.
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): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1, I. ... ii) Determined to start the urgent work of construction a New Comorian Ensemble responding adequately to the necessity of a sharing of powers by the Ensemble and the Islands, in order to let them concretise their legitimate aspirations and to administer and freely manage their own affairs and to enhance in that way their social and economic development;

Page 3, 4. WE AGREE that the Constitution will determine the fields of competence of the Ensemble and of the Islands. ...
Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
Page 3, 5. WE THEREFORE DECIDE about the instruments, the time-table and the guarantees below:
I. INSTRUMENTS
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
6. The Committee is the principal body representing the Government, the Authority of Anjouan, the Political Forces and the Civil Society of the Islands.
7. It constitutes the appropriate Forum for a broad consensual debate aiming at arriving at a durable solution of the current crisis and at providing national reconciliation. It is also in charge of the drawing up of the project of the Fundamental Law. It is autonomous.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
13. The transitional Institutions are as follows:
i) On a National Level
14. The Head of State in office will assume the functions of President during the period of transition.
15. After adoption of the Constitution in accordance with the time-table established in clause17 below, the government will be dissolved and replaced by a Transitional Government of national unity composed on a basis of equality, the practical forms of which will be defined by the Following-Up Committee. The Transitional Government of National Unity will be responsible for the initiation of the new institutions, among other things. Anjouan will join this Government according to forms which will be established subsequently.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
13. The transitional Institutions are as follows:
... ii) On the level of the Islands
16. The structures in force on the Islands will constitute to exercise their functions until the new structures have been initiated.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
... iii) Time-table
17 The period of transition will respect the following time-table:
... 31 December, 2001: Initiation of the new institutions.

Page 5, III. GUARANTEES
18. Within seven (7) days after the proclamation of the results of the constitutional referendum the Head of State will form the transitional Government of national unity mentioned in clause 15 above.
Elections: Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
... 11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:
i) revising the electoral code;
ii) sensitizing the voters and prepare electoral lists and cards;
iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;
iv) approving and publishing the electoral results;

Page 5, III. GUARANTEES
... 19. The Head of State and the members of the transitional Government of National Unity as well as the president of the Committees and Sub-Committees envisaged by this Agreement who will not have handed in their resigned within the limit of (7) days after the adoption of the Constitution will not be eligible at the subsequent elections. The Head of State in office must pronounce himself before the forming of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

Page 5, III. GUARANTEES
... 21. The Comorian parties, signatories of this General Agreement engage to work together in order to create, on the Islands, a climate of trust and a context which is peaceful and favourable to free establishment, to free circulation of persons and goods, to feed and fair elections.
Electoral commission: Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
... 11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:
i) revising the electoral code;
ii) sensitizing the voters and prepare electoral lists and cards;
iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;
iv) approving and publishing the electoral results;
Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
13. The transitional Institutions are as follows:
... ii) On the level of the Islands
16. The structures in force on the Islands will constitute to exercise their functions until the new structures have been initiated.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
... iii) Time-table
17 The period of transition will respect the following time-table:
... 31 December, 2001: Initiation of the new institutions.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1, I. WE, COMORIAN PARTIES, representing the Comorian Government and the Political forces supporting it in Mohéli and in the Grande Comore, the Anjouan Authority, the Opposition and the Civil Society of the Islands under the auspices of the Organisation of the African Unity supported by the International Organisation of la Francophonie and the European Union and in the presence of the League of the Arab States and the United Nations,

Page 3, 5. WE THEREFORE DECIDE about the instruments, the time-table and the guarantees below:
I. INSTRUMENTS
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
6. The Committee is the principal body representing the Government, the Authority of Anjouan, the Political Forces and the Civil Society of the Islands.

Page 3, i) COMPOSITION
8. The Committee is composed in the following way:
i) for each island, the Committee is composed of a delegation containing the same number of delegates which will represent, on an equal basis, the Government, the Authority of Anjouan and the Political Forces supporting them, the Political Forces of the Opposition and the Civil Society:
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 3, 4. WE AGREE that the Constitution will determine the fields of competence of the Ensemble and of the Islands. However, the prerogatives relating to the sovereignty of the State (religion, nationality, currency, foreign relations and exterior defence) and the national symbols (the flag, the national anthem, the national emblems) are within the competence exclusively of the New Comorian Ensemble.

Page 3, 5. WE THEREFORE DECIDE about the instruments, the time-table and the guarantees below:
I. INSTRUMENTS
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
... 7. It constitutes the appropriate Forum for a broad consensual debate aiming at arriving at a durable solution of the current crisis and at providing national reconciliation. It is also in charge of the drawing up of the project of the Fundamental Law. It is autonomous.

Page 3, ii) FUNCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
9, The Committee should:
i) initiate a technical sub-committee responsible for the drawing up fo the Constitution of the New Comorian Ensemble and for the determining of the forms of its popularisation and its approval by way of referendum;

Page 4, I. INSTRUMENTS:
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
...
11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:
... iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;
...
II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE
...
i) On a National level
...
15. After adoption of the Constitution in accordance with the time-table established in clause 17 below, the Government will be dissolved and replaced by a Transitional Government of
national unity composed on a basis of equality, the practical forms of which will be defined by the Follow-Up Committee. The Transitional Government of National Unity will be
responsible for the initiation of the new institutions, among other things. Anjouan will join this Government according to forms which will be established subsequently.
...
ii) On the level of the Islands
17. The period of transition will respect the following time-table: June, 2001 at the latest: Constitutional Referendum

Page 5, III. GUARANTEES:
18. Within seven (7) days after the proclamation of the results of the constitutional referendum the Head of State will form the transitional Government of national unity
mentioned in clause 15 above.

19. The Head of State and the members of the transitional Government of National Unity as well as the presidents of the Committees and Sub-Committees envisaged by this Agreement who will not have handed in their resignation within the limit of seven (7) days after the adoption of the Constitution will not be eligible at the subsequent elections. The Head of State in office must pronounce himself before the forming of the Transitional Government of National Unity.
...
22. The Comorian Parties also engage to cooperate closely with the Follow-Up Committee and to respect the decisions taken by it within the framework of the accomplishment of this Agreement, particularly the strict respect of the time-table related to the drawing up and adoption of the Constitution as well as the elections which will follow thereupon.

Page 6, V. FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM
27. ... In this respect, the representatives of the international community could make all suggestions, particularly for the Constitution to be submitted to a referendum within the given time limits.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalition
State level
Pages
I. INSTRUMENTS
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE

6. The Committee is the principal body representing the Government, the Authority of Anjouan, the Political Forces and the Civil Society of the Islands.

7. It constitutes the appropriate Forum for a broad consensual debate aiming at arriving at a durable solution of the current crisis and at providing national reconciliation. It is also in charge of the drawing up of the project of the Fundamental Law. It is autonomous.

i) COMPOSITION

8. The Committee is composed in the following way:

for each Island, the Committee is composed of a delegation containing the same number of delegates which will represent, on an equal basis, the Government, the Authority of Anjouan and the Political Forces supporting them, the Political Forces of the Opposition and the Civil Society;

ii) it draws up, adopts and initiates its own regulations;

ii) FUNCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

9. The Committee should:
i) initiate a technical sub-committee responsible for the drawing up of the Constitution of the New Comorian Ensemble and for the determining of the forms of its popularisation and its approval by way of referendum;

ii) initiate a sub-committee in charge of the collection of arms and of the reintegration of young people;

iii) initiate all other working groups and/or Sub-Committees judged necessary for the effective accomplishment, within the given time, of the specific tasks assigned to them;

iv) within the framework of its assignments, its decisions are taken by consensus and become binding for all the institutions of the country.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL

10. A National Electoral Independent Committee of Approval will be initiated. Its members will be appointed by the Tripartite Committee for the national reconciliation and the definition of the New Comorian Ensemble.

11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:

i) revising the electoral code;

ii) sensitizing the voters and prepare electoral lists and cards;

iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;

iv) approving and publishing the electoral results;

12. The Committee draws up, adopts and initiates its own regulations.
Power sharing→Political power sharing→Proportionality in legislature
State level
Page 1, I. ... ii) Determined to start the urgent work of construction a New Comorian Ensemble responding adequately to the necessity of a sharing of powers by the Ensemble and the Islands, in order to let them concretise their legitimate aspirations and to administer and freely manage their own affairs and to enhance in that way their social and economic development;
Power sharing→Political power sharing→Other proportionality
State level
Page 6,
27. A Follow-Up Committee, composed of the signatory Parties and of representatives of the international community, coordinated by the latter, will be initiated in order to control, supervise, coordinate and take all measures considered necessary in order to guarantee the effective realization of all the stipulations of this present General Agreement and a strict following of the time-table.

In this respect, the representatives of the international community could make all suggestions, particularly for the Constitution to be submitted to a referendum within the given time limits. The Follow-Up Committee establishes and adopts its regulations.

This Committee will also be responsible for the arbitrating of all differences of opinion related to the carrying out of this present General Agreement.
Territorial power sharing: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Federal or similar sub-divided government
Page 1, I. ... ii) Determined to start the urgent work of construction a New Comorian Ensemble responding adequately to the necessity of a sharing of powers by the Ensemble and the Islands, in order to let them concretise their legitimate aspirations and to administer and freely manage their own affairs and to enhance in that way their social and economic development;

Page 1-2, 3. WE ENGAGE to undertake the urgent work of its construction and to respond adequately to the necessity of a sharing of the power between the Ensemble and the Islands in order to let those entities concretise their legitimate aspirations to administer and freely manage their own affairs.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1, I. ... iv) Conscious also of the absolute necessity of introducing justice, equality, democracy, good governance, respect of human rights and public liberties and to engage all Comorians in this process;
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: Page 1, I. ... iv) Conscious also of the absolute necessity of introducing justice, equality, democracy, good governance, respect of human rights and public liberties and to engage all Comorians in this process;
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 5, III. GUARANTEES
... 21. The Comorian parties, signatories of this General Agreement engage to work together in order to create, on the Islands, a climate of trust and a context which is peaceful and favourable to free establishment, to free circulation of persons and goods, to feed and fair elections.
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, I. ... ii) Determined to start the urgent work of construction a New Comorian Ensemble responding adequately to the necessity of a sharing of powers by the Ensemble and the Islands, in order to let them concretise their legitimate aspirations and to administer and freely manage their own affairs and to enhance in that way their social and economic development;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 5, IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES
23. The signatory parties ask the international community to vouch for the engagements taken within the framework of this agreement and to provide the Comoros with technical, logistic and financial aid allowing it to making sure a peaceful transition, to guarantee the good realisation of the electoral process and to help with the establishment of the New Comorian Ensemble.

Page 5, IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES
... 24. They also ask the international community to consider the fact that the Comoros now enter into a stage allowing the progressive section of the development work. Moreover they appeal to the international community to organize, in collaboration with the transitional government of national unity, a Donors' conference.

Page 5, IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES
... 25. With regard taken to the specificity of the Anjouan situation, the signatory parties expressly ask the international community to grant this entity the indispensable human, financial and material resources for the carrying out of the stipulations of this present General Agreement.
Business: Page 5, IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES
... 26. They also ask the Organization of African Unity to lift the embargo concerning Anjouan from the signing of this present General Agreement.
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: Page 5, III. GUARANTEES
... 20. Through their neutrality they guarantee security, peace and equality during the transition.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 3, ii) FUNCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
9, The Committee should:
... ii) initiate a sub-committee in charge of the collection of arms and of the reintegration of young people;
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: Page 1, I. ... iii) Conscious of the necessity to create conditions favourable of the reinforcement of the national cohesion, through dialogue and consultation, in order to promote the factors uniting us and to work together in order to concretise the superior interests of our populations;

Page 3, 5. WE THEREFORE DECIDE about the instruments, the time-table and the guarantees below:
I. INSTRUMENTS
A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE
6. The Committee is the principal body representing the Government, the Authority of Anjouan, the Political Forces and the Civil Society of the Islands.
7. It constitutes the appropriate Forum for a broad consensual debate aiming at arriving at a durable solution of the current crisis and at providing national reconciliation. It is also in charge of the drawing up of the project of the Fundamental Law. It is autonomous.

Page 4, B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL
10. A National Electoral Independent Committee of Approval will be initiated. Its members will be appointed by the Tripartite Committee for the national reconciliation an the definition of the New Comorian Ensemble.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: For the international community: The organisation of African Unity (Francisco J.C. Madeira), The International Organisation of la Francophonie (Andre Salifou).
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 6, V. FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM
27. A Follow-up committee, composed of the signatory parties and of representatives of the international community, coordinated by the latter, will be initiated in order to control, supervise, coordinate and take all measures considered necessary in order to guarantee the effective realization of all the stipulations of this present General Agreement and a strict following of the time-table.
In this respect, the representatives of the international community could make all suggestions, particularly for the Constitution to be submitted to a referendum within the given time limits.
The Follow-up Committee establishes and adopts its regulations.
This Committee will also be responsible for the arbitrating of all differences of opinion related to the carrying out of this present General Agreement.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Project, http://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/fullpeace/com20010217.pdf

GENERAL AGREEMENT ON NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

(signed on Saturday February 17th 2001 in Fomboni)

I. WE, COMORIAN PARTIES, representing the Comorian Government and the Political forces supporting it in Mohéli and in the Grande Comore, the Anjouan Authority, the Opposition and the Civil Society of the Islands under the auspices of the Organisation of the African Unity supported by the International Organisation of la Francophonie and the European Union and in the presence of the League of the Arab States and the United Nations,

i) Taking into account the efforts deployed by the different Parties of the crisis, as well as the previous Agreements concerning the resolution of the Comorian crisis;

ii) Determined to start the urgent work of construction a New Comorian Ensemble responding adequately to the necessity of a sharing of powers by the Ensemble and the Islands, in order to let them concretise their legitimate aspirations and to administer and freely manage their own affairs and to enhance in that way their social and economic development;

iii) Conscious of the necessity to create conditions favourable of the reinforcement of the national cohesion, through dialogue and consultation, in order to promote the factors uniting us and to work together in order to concretise the superior interests of our populations;

iv) Conscious also of the absolute necessity of introducing justice, equality, democracy, good governance, respect of human rights and public liberties and to engage all Comorians in this process;

v) Expressing our profound appreciation in regard to the Organisation of African Unity, of the International Organisation of la Francophonie, of the European Union and of the League of Arab States, for the constant efforts they are deploying in view of a rapid, just and durable solution of the Comorian crisis;

2. WE APPROVE, by this present General Agreement, the organisation of a New Comorian Ensemble, sole subject of international right, founded on the respect of national unity and the intangibility of the frontiers of the Comoros such as they are internationally acknowledged, in accordance with the resolution CM/Res.419 (XXV) concerning the admission of the Comoros to the Organisation of African Unity 18 July, 1975, and the resolution 3385 (XXX) of 12 November, 1975, concerning its admission to the United Nations.

3. WE ENGAGE to undertake the urgent work of its construction and to respond adequately to the necessity of a sharing of the power between the Ensemble and the Islands in order to let those entities concretise their legitimate aspirations to administer and freely manage their ownaffairs.

4. WE AGREE that the Constitution will determine the fields of competence of the Ensemble and of the Islands.

However, the prerogatives relating to the sovieriengty of the State (religion, nationality, currency, foreign relations and exterior defence) and the national symbols (the flag, the national anthem, the national emblems) are within the competence exclusively of the New Comorian Ensemble.

5. WE THEREFORE DECIDE about the instruments, the time-table and the guarantees below:

I. INSTRUMENTS

A. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND THE DEFINITION OF THE NEW COMORIAN ENSEMBLE

6. The Committee is the principal body representing the Government, the Authority of Anjouan, the Political Forces and the Civil Society of the Islands.

7. It constitutes the appropriate Forum for a broad consensual debate aiming at arriving at a durable solution of the current crisis and at providing national reconciliation.

It is also in charge of the drawing up of the project of the Fundamental Law.

It is autonomous.

i) COMPOSITION

8. The Committe is composed in the following way:

i) for each island, the Committee is composed of a delegation containing the same number of delegates which will represent, on an equal basis, the Government, the Authority of Anjouan and the Political Forces supporting them, the Political Forces of the Opposition and the Civil Society:

ii) it draws up, adopts and initiates its own regulation;

ii) FUNCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

9, The Committee should:

i) initiate a technical sub-committee responsible for the drawing up fo the Constitution of the New Comorian Ensemble and for the determining of the forms of its popularisation and its approval by way of referendum;

ii) initiate a sub-committee in charge of the collection of arms and of the reintegration of young people;

iii) initiate all other working groups and/or Sub-Committee judged necessary for the effective accomplishment, within the given time, of the specific tasts assigned to them;

iv) within the framework of its assignments, its decisions are taken by consensus and become binding for thee the institutions of the country.

B. NATIONAL ELECTORAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF APPROVAL

10. A National Electoral Independent Committee of Approval will be initiated.

Its members will be appointed by the Tripartite Committee for the national reconciliation an the definition of the New Comorian Ensemble.

11. This Committee is responsible for the undertaking of the following actions:

i) revising the electoral code;

ii) sensitizing the voters and prepare electoral lists and cards;

iii) organising, conducting and supervising the constitutional referendum and all the other elections;

iv) approving and publishing the electoral results;

12. The Committee draws up, adopts and initiating its own regulations.

II. TRANSITIONS AND TIME-TABLE

13. The transitional Institutions are as follows:

i) On a National Level

14. The Head of State in office will assume the functions of President during the period of transition.

15. After adoption of the Constitution in accordance with the time-table established in clause17 below, the government will be dissolved and replaced by a Transitional Government of national unity composed on a basis of equality, the practical forms of which will be defined by the Following-Up Committee.

The Transitional Government of National Unity will be responsible for the initiation of the new institutions, among other things.

Anjouan will join this Government according to forms which will be established subsequently.

ii) On the level of the Islands

16. The structures in force on the ISlands will constitute to exercise their functions until the new structures have been initiated.

iii) Time-table

17 The period of transition will respect the following time-table:

June, 2001 at the latest:

Constitutional Referendum

31 December, 2001:

Initiation of the new institutions.

III. GUARANTEES

18. Within seven (7) days after the proclamation of the results of the constitutional referendum the Head of State will form the transitional Government of national unity mentioned in clause 15 above.

19. The Head of State and the members of the transitional Government of National Unity as well as the president of the Committees and Sub-Committees envisaged by this Agreement who will not have handed in their resigned within the limit of (7) days after the adoption of the Constitution will not be eligible at the subseqent elections.

The Head of State in office must pronounce himself begore the forming of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

20. Through their neutrality they guarantee security, peace and equality during the transition.

21. The Comorian parties, signatories fo this General Agreement engage to work togerhter in order to create, on the Islands, a climate of trust and a context which is peaceful and favourable to free establishment, to free circulation of persons and goods, to feed and fair elections.

22. The Comorian Parties also engage to cooperate closely with the Follow-up Committee and to respect the decisions taken by it within the framework of the accomplishment of this Agreement, particularly the strict repect of the time-table related to the drawing up and adoption of the Constitution as wel as the elections which will follow thereupon.

IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES

23. The signatory parties ask the international community to vouch for the engagements taken within the framework of this agreement and to provide the Comoros with technical, logistic and financial aid alowing it to making sure a peaceful transition, to guarantee the good realization of the electoral process and to help with the establishment of the New Comorian Ensemble.

24. They also aske the international community to consider the fact that the Comoros now enter inso a stage allowing the progressive section of the development work.

Moreover they appeal to the international community to organize, in collaboration with the transitional government of national unity, a Donors' conference.

25. With regard taken to the specificity of the Anjouan situation, the signatory parties expressly ask the international community to grant this entity the indispensible human, financial and material resources for the carrying out of the stipulations of this present General Agreement.

26. They also ask the Organization of African Unity to lift the embargo concerning Anjouan from the signing of this present General Agreement.

V. FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM

27. A Follow-up committee, composed of the signatory parties and of representatives of the international community, coordinated by the latter, will be initiated in order to control, supervise, coordinate and take all measures considered necessary in order to guarantee the effective realization of all the stipulations of this present General Agreement and a strict following of the time-table.

In this respect, the representatives of the international community could make all suggestions, particularly for the Constitution to be submitted to a referendum within the given time limits.

The Follow-up Committee establishes and adopts its regulations.

This Committee will also be responsible for the arbitrating of all differences of opinion related to the carrying out of this present General Agreement.

28. Finally, the Comorian Parties signatories of this present General Agreemnt take the opportunity of the ongoing national reconciliation in order to reaffirm in front of the international community, and especially to the United Nations and the Organisations of African Unity, their attachment to a rapid and peaceful solution of the issue of the Island of Mayotte.

In this respect, they appeal to the international community that it may take advantage of this moment offiered by the dynamics of the New Comorian Ensemble in order to facilitate the rapid and peaceful settling of this issue.

29. All stipulations contrary tot he stipulations of this present Agreement are nul and void.

30. This General Agreement comes into force at the date of its signing.

The first meeting of the Folowing-Up Committee will take place on 1 March, 2001.

Signatures

For the Comorian Parties:

Mohamed Fazul, Lt.

Col.

Said Abied, Abbas Djoussouf, Ali Toihiri, Saidali Bacar, Issamidine Adaine, Col.

Azali Assoumani,

For the international community:

The organisation of African Unity (Francisco J.C. Madeira), The International Organisation of la Francophonie (Andre Salifou).

Fomboni, 17 February, 2001.