Joint Statement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) on Somalia Emergency and Drought Relief

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Country/entity: Somalia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Statement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) on Somalia Emergency and Drought Relief
Date: 21 Sep 2008
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Somali Civil War (1991 - )
Originally spurred by centre-peripheral tensions, fighting broke out in 1981 between the regime of President Said Barre and the Somali National Movement, a militia primarily consisting of members from the northern Ishaq clan. Fighting intensified in the late 1980s as more clan-based militias arose. President Barre’s regime collapsed in late 1991 and as a result the UN intervened. However persistent attacks on the UN’s forces forced a withdrawal in 1994. From the mid- to late 1990s, the character of the conflict shifted as warlords fought for access to rents. Also during this period, two different peace agreements arose; the Sodere Declaration, which was mediated by Ethiopia and supported by IGAD, and the Cairo Accord, which was brokered by Egypt. Fighting, already noticeably lessened compared to the early 1990s, decreased and the more amicable environment paved the way for the Transitional Government to be formed in 2000 (replaced in 2004 by the Transitional Federal Government).

Nonetheless, opposition to the TFG arose in the form of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which by early 2006 had taken control of most of southern Somalia until they were ousted by an armed intervention by Ethiopia in December 2006. As a result, the ICU splintered. Hard-line ICU members formed the Takfiri organization, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, and launched a guerrilla campaign against the TFG. Another faction of the ICU fled to Djibouti and formed the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, which was absorbed into the ruling TFG after successful negotiations in 2007.

To deal with the new round of fighting, the UN-mandated AMISOM force was deployed in 2007. Since then, insecurity has fluctuated between the urban and rural areas as the al-Shabaab's territorial gains waver. Local militia leaders maintain de facto governance over communities. From 2009 to 2012, insecurity spilled over into the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean when Somali pirates seized, looted and ransomed ships. In 2014, 'Operation Indian Ocean' was launched and in parallel with infighting among al-Shabaab, the organisation's position in Somalia has diminished slightly. However, as evidenced by large-scale attacks by al-Shabaab in northern Kenya throughout 2013-2015, the lack of security continues to destabilize the region. Al-Shabaab continues to launch surprise attacks with the aim of forcing out foreign military presence in Somalia. Targets include both military forces and civilians. The devastating attack in October 2017 in Mogadishu saw 587 fatalities and resulted in a renewed military offensive by the Somali government and African Union allies. Since 2017, the U.S. has increased its air strikes targeting al-Shabaab militants, and in December 2018 they announced to re-establish a permanent diplomatic mission in the country. Al-Shabaab has been characterized as a spoiler in the Somali peace process and have therefore been placed outside of any negotiations.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Somalia Peace Process
Parties: Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, signed for by Abdurahman Abdishakur Warsame;
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, signed for by Ahmed Abdisalam Aden.
Third parties: Witnessed by:
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, UN Special Representative to Somalia;
Hamud A. Suldan, Minister of Islamic Affairs and Waqf, Djibouti
Description: Short statement providing provisions for the establishment of a humanitarian aid office to operate from Djibouti. Controlled by the High Level Committee and administered by a sub-committee consisting of 2 TFG members, 2 ARS members and a civil society representative.

Agreement document: SO_080921_Joint Statement between TFG and ARS on Emergency and Droughts.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: Page 1, untitled preamble, Taking into account the fact that the parties jointly declared that the people of Somalia need an immediate humanitarian assistance (paragraph 6 of the Joint Communique of 20 August, 2008)

Page 1, Art. 2, The High Level Committee establishes a sub-committee of five members (2 TFG, 2 ARS, 1 civil society) that will act as the executive board of the new initiative.
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
State level
Page 1, Art. 2, The High Level Committee establishes a sub-committee of five members (2 TFG, 2 ARS, 1 civil society) that will act as the executive board of the new initiative.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

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

Rights related issues

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

Rights institutions

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

Justice sector reform

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

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, untitled preamble, in line with the Djibouti Agreement between the TFG and ARS to end hostility in their country and work together for the peaceful reconstruction of Somalia.

... Art. 1, the two parties agree to hereby establish a national emergency and relief office that commences its primary activities from Djibouti. The office comes under the supervision of the High Level Committee.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 1, untitled preamble, Taking into account the fact that the parties jointly declared that the people of Somalia need an immediate humanitarian assistance (paragraph 6 of the Joint Communique of 20 August, 2008)
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: Page 1, Art. 2, The High Level Committee establishes a sub-committee of five members (2 TFG, 2 ARS, 1 civil society) that will act as the executive board of the new initiative.
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: UN Special Representative for Somalia signed as witness.
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: UN Peacemaker - http://peacemaker.un.org/; http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/SO_080921_Joint%20Statement%20between%20TFG%20and%20ARS%20on%20Emergency%20and%20Droughts.pdf

Joint Statement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia And The Alliance for the Re-Iiberation of Somalia

On Somalia Emergency and Drought Relief (SFDR)

In line with the Djibouti Agreernent between the TFG and ARS to end hostility in their country and work together for the peaceful reconstruction of Somalia,

And

Taking into account the fact that the parties jointly declared that the people of Somalia need an immediate humanitarian.

assistance (paragraph 6 of the Joint Communique of 20 August, 2008).

1. The two parties agree to hereby establish a national emergency and relief offıce that commences its primary activities from Djibouti.

The office comes under the supervision of the High Level Committee.

2. The High Level Committee establishes a sub-committee of fıve members (2 TFG, 2 ARS, 1 civil society) that will act as the executive board of the new initiative.

3. The sub-committee will meet to ~epne the main activities:

install the emergency office, recruit professional staff and approve the initial budget, etc.

4. Agree to offıcially open the emergency and relief office a week after signing this Statement.

Djibouti

September 21 , 2008

~~~ ~ Ahmed Abdisalam Aden Abdurahman Abdishakur Warsame

Transitional Federal Governrnent The Alliance for the Re-liberartion of Sornalia

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah

UN Special Representative for Somalia

Witnessed

Minister of lslamic Affairs and Waqf, Republic of Djibouti