Adadda Peace Agreement

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Country/entity: Ethiopia
Somalia
Ogaden
Puntland
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Adadda Peace Agreement
Date: 15 May 1997
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local 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: Framework/substantive - comprehensive
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Somali Local Peace Processes
Parties: Communities of Adadda.
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement to be implemented by the community elders providing for management of resources according to customary law, preventing deforestation, preventing water catchment structures, reimbursement for those who have had their water catchments destroyed.

Agreement document: SO_970515_Adadda Peace Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: This is the first of a series of initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Adadda between 1997 and 2007. The parties to the agreement were hosted by Bah Ararsame traditional elders in Qoriley. Later initiatives in 2007 were more formally supported, including by the Puntland administration.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: Neither the agreement text nor limited background research suggests a link to a national-level peace process.
Name of Locale: Adadda area
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 7.897211, 47.641990
Participant type: Local state actor
Local armed group
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Mediator: Mediating committee
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: It is implicit and it refers to the construction of berkedo which are concrete water reservoirs.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Adadda Agreement, 1997

The mediating committee proposed the following:

- Immediate dismantling of forces at Kur’aad

- Management of resources ( in this case water ) through xeer, or customary law

- Formation of berkedo in common grazing areas are prohibited

- For environmental reasons, deforestation is prohibited

- Use of movable plastic reservoirs will substitute construction of [permanent] berkedo

- Nugaal authorities will monitor and regulate the building of new berkedo in Tukaale as well as other nearby common grazing land;

- Nugaal authorities are also responsible for reimbursement for destruction of berkedo;

- Community elders shall administer the implementation of the mediating committee’s recommendations;