Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement
Export agreement:
- Country/entity
-
Lebanon
Syria - Region
-
Middle East and North Africa
- Agreement name
- Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement
- Date
- 5 Aug 2014
- Agreement status
- Multiparty signed/agreed
- Interim arrangement
- Yes
- Agreement/conflict level
- Intrastate/local conflict
- Stage
- Ceasefire/related
- Conflict nature
- Government
- Peace process
- Syrian Local Agreements
- Parties
- Syrian rebels (Islamist), Lebanese Armed Forces
- Third parties
- -
- Description
- A 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire following fighting between Syrian factions and Lebanese Armed Forces allowing for the evacuation of civilians and wounded. Implementation managed by a joint committee of 'Syrian jurists' and Arsal inhabitants. Ceasefire broken in less than 24 hours.
- Agreement document
- LB_SY_140805_Arsal Ceasefire_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
- Agreement document (original language)
- LB_SY_140805_Arsal Ceasefire_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)
Local agreement properties
- Process type
-
Isolated example
- Rationale
- -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; no culture of signing The clashes in Arsal opposed the Lebanese army on the one side to fighters of Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State from neighbouring Syria on the other side. The two Salafi-Jihadist groups have been active in Lebanon in the bordering area (especially Arsal) and in the northern city of Tripoli. Lebanon has dealt with those insurgents via its army and refused to “negotiate” with those “terrorist” groups. Only in December 2015, in a once-off instance, Lebanon agreed to swap prisoners with Jabhat al-Nusra. There is thus no persistent practice of signing agreements in Lebanon at that time. Moreover, the agreement was reached at the level of the city of Arsal on the initiative of an imam. No national established mechanism supported the negotiations.
- Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
- No
- Link to national process: articulated rationale
- The agreement does not contain any reference to a wider peace process at the national level, as the Lebanese state representatives refused to negotiate with insurgent groups. We can also debate the existence of a national peace process in Lebanon (unless it is directly linked to the civil war, which is not the case here). Yet, it is noteworthy to note that the agreement was approved by several Lebanese state officials: Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, Interior Minister Nihad al-Mashnouq, and army chief Jean Kahwagi. There was thus official national support for the agreement.
- Name of Locale
- Arsal
- Nature of Locale
- City
- GPS Lat/Long (DD)
- 34.179095, 36.420674
- Participant type
-
Central state actor
International or transnational actor - Mediator, facilitator or similar
- Mediator or similar referred to
- Mediator (references)
- Sheikh Salem al-Rafii, Sunni imam of the al-Taqwa mosque (Tripoli), reached the agreement with the insurgent fighters after he was wounded by gunfire. The agreement was then submitted to the Lebanese army for approval or rejection. The name of the Sheikh is not mentioned in the agreement.
- Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
- Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local issues
- Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
No specific mention.
- Grievance List
- Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists five provisions to address local grievances.
Page 1,
1. Form a Committee consisting of the people of Arsal [ʿArsāl] and some Syrian jurists to manage Arsal, stay updated on the security situation and ensure the implementation of this initiative under the supervision of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (LIFE) and the Muslim Scholars Association.
2. All warring parties are obliged to withdraw from Arsal and hand over the area to the Committee.
3. As a gesture of goodwill, the fighters will release three Lebanese soldiers in return for the entry of media bodies and humanitarian relief organisations.
4. The wounded will be transported [out] and civilians are permitted to leave, particularly women and children. Under the supervision of the Arsal Committee, doctors will be brought in to treat those who cannot be moved.
5. Permit the delivery of food, medical and humanitarian aid to the town of Arsal. - Cattle rustling/banditry
No specific mention.
- Social cover
No specific mention.
Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement
5 August 2014
1. Form a Committee consisting of the people of Arsal [ʿArsāl] and some Syrian jurists to manage Arsal, stay updated on the security situation and ensure the implementation of this initiative under the supervision of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (LIFE) and the Muslim Scholars Association.
2. All warring parties are obliged to withdraw from Arsal and hand over the area to the Committee.
3. As a gesture of goodwill, the fighters will release three Lebanese soldiers in return for the entry of media bodies and humanitarian relief organisations.
4. The wounded will be transported [out] and civilians are permitted to leave, particularly women and children.
Under the supervision of the Arsal Committee, doctors will be brought in to treat those who cannot be moved,.
5. Permit the delivery of food, medical and humanitarian aid to the town of Arsal.