Peace Agreement between the Sa’ad and Saleman sub-clans

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Country/entity: Somalia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Peace Agreement between the Sa’ad and Saleman sub-clans
Date: 18 Feb 2007
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: Sa’ad and Saleman sub-clans
Third parties: -
Description: Short peace agreement between the Sa'ad and Saleman sub-clans in Adado that restores land-holdings back to original owners, agree to use shariah as the basis for criminal justice, and establish a joint elders' council, a joint local police committee and a joint local judiciary committee authorized to extend this agreement in all the respective areas.

Agreement document: SO_070218_Peace Agreement between the Saad and Saleman sub-clans.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The local peace process that led to the signing of this agreement was launched by elders and politicians of the conflict parties and supported by the Transitional Federal Government, other state officials, members of the communities, including youth and women, as well as international and national non-governmental organisations. This peace process followed the first local peace initiative that was launched in 2004.
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 the national-level peace process.
Name of Locale: Mudug - Galgadud
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.478236, 46.951934
Participant type: Central state actor
Local state actor
International or transnational actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Regional state actor
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Facilitators: Center for Research and Dialogue facilitation team; Interpeace; TFG Funders: TFG; Puntland administration; international donors (Sweden and Norway); Interpeace
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Central state actor Regional state actor Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Page 1, 2. The long-standing blood vendetta conflict between the two sides is completely dismissed. Abiding by the Somali tradition and cultural context, the two communities opened a new chapter for peace. All forms of properties destroyed in the fighting were also dismissed.
...
4. Property captured in the fighting is to be unconditionally returned to its owner on the basis of Sharia law, including vehicles, camels and cattle etc.Note: Military equipment, such as battlewagons and guns, are excluded and are dealt with through a technical settlement.
Cattle rustling/banditry: Page 1, 4. Property captured in the fighting is to be unconditionally returned to its owner on the basis of Sharia law, including vehicles, camels and cattle etc. Note: Military equipment, such as battlewagons and guns, are excluded and are dealt with through a technical settlement.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Peace Agreement between the Sa’ad and Saleman sub-clans, Adado, 18 February 2007

The peace agreement is non-negotiable, with no recourse to past events from now onwards.

The long-standing blood vendetta conflict between the two sides is completely dismissed.

Abiding by the Somali tradition and cultural context, the two communities opened a new chapter for peace.

All forms of properties destroyed in the fighting were also dismissed.

Every person is entitled to have access to his/her own property - water pools, houses, plot of land, etc. -

regardless of the properties’ location.

Property captured in the fighting is to be unconditionally returned to its owner on the basis of Sharia law, including vehicles, camels and cattle etc.

Note:

Military equipment, such as battlewagons and guns, are excluded and are dealt with through a technical settlement.

The two sub-clans agree to respect and uphold the peace accord and its authentic implementation.

They agree to practice Sharia and use this as the basis for settling any crime committed.

For effective sustainability and implementation of this historic agreement, the two sub-clans agree to establish a joint elders’ council, a joint local police committee and a joint local judiciary committee authorized to extend this agreement in all the respective areas.