Statement by the Martyrs Brigade in Zawiyat al-Mahjoub regarding the ceasefire agreement in Aziziyyah and the latest developments in and near Tripoli

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Statement by the Martyrs Brigade in Zawiyat al-Mahjoub regarding the ceasefire agreement in Aziziyyah and the latest developments in and near Tripoli
Date: 26 Apr 2015
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )
Agreements relate to two distinct conflict dyads.
Libya-Chad. Since the 1970s, Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had a tense relationship with its neighbour Chad, predominantly focused on the resource-rich Aouzou Strip in northern Chad. Libyan claims of the Aouzou Strip were held in an un-ratified treaty between France and Italy in 1935, similarly Chadian claims of the Strip were argued with support of a 1955 treaty between Libya and France. In 1973, Libya effectively annexed the Strip to gain access to natural resources. This spurred cross-border clashes between 1979 until 1987 until escalated to a brief war known as the Toyota War, wherein Chadian government troops succeeded in repelling Libyan forces. A brief and repeatedly violated ceasefire was held from 1987-88, followed by a series of unsuccessful negotiations, until an International Court of Justice ruling in 1994, which granted sovereignty of the Strip to Chad.

Libya post-Gaddafi. Gaddafi’s downfall following the Libyan Civil War in 2011-2012, led to several factions fighting for the country’s leadership. Since 2013, the country effectively split into three entities, with the National Army controlling the east including the city of Benghazi, and the New General National Congress and their militias such as the Golden Dawn controlling the northwest including the capital of Tripoli. Significant portions of the country in the south-west are currently held by Tuareg forces. The civil war and chaos continued into 2014 as the General National Congress refused to disband after the expiry of its mandate, resulting in eruption of mass protests. The UN efforts continue to broker peace between the Libyan Army and the Libya Dawn factions, and a partial ceasefire was declared in January 2015. A new interim-government (Tunisia-based) called ‘Government of National Accord’ is formed with the backing of UN despite the refusal of the other forces to recognise its authority and arrived to Tripoli with the UN in 2016. A state of emergency was declared by the UN backed government amid clashed between rival militia in Tripoli’s southern suburbs. Since April 2019 there has been sustained fighting between the Libyan National Army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli as the Libyan National Army aims to seize Tripoli.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Libyan local processes
Parties: 9 Brigades linked to the Martyrs Brigade of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub.
Third parties: -
Description: Unilateral statement by the Martyrs Brigade of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub agreeing to the Aziziyyah Ceasefire as part of the choreography of documents.

Agreement document: LY_150426_Aziziyyah Ceasefire_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_150426_Aziziyyah Ceasefire_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Informal but persistent process
Rationale: -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing Although the agreement was not supported by any formally-established mechanism, it is clearly embedded in a culture of signing agreements in this local and in this timeframe. The agreement supports a previous ceasefire implemented din the area and is part of a choreography of documents aimed at bringing an end to violent clashes in and around Tripoli.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement is clearly linked to the national process. The signing party affirms that it will "not compromis[e] fundamental principles [of the state]" and warn the factions that would like to "restor[e] the time before 17 February 2011", referring to the beginning of the Libyan uprising in Tripoli.
Name of Locale: al-Aziziyyah
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.531867, 13.021160
Participant type: Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Page 1, In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful

Page 1, Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least:
Grievance List: Page 1, In light of the recent developments in and near Tripoli, and efforts by the frontline leaders in the area of al-Aziziyyah in order to end fighting there [...]
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Statement by the Martyrs Brigade in Zawiyat al-Mahjoub regarding the ceasefire agreement in Aziziyyah and the latest developments in and near Tripoli

In the name of Allah, the beneficial, the merciful

[Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah:

of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait:

but they have never changed (their determination) in the least:]

In light of the recent developments in and near Tripoli, and efforts by the frontline leaders in the area of al-Aziziyyah in order to end fighting there, the Brigade of al-Mahjoub in Misrata and affilitated brigades, announce the following:

- The Martyrs Brigade blesses the steps taken by those on the front line in the area of al-Aziziyyah, and nearby, to cease fire and prevent blood shed.

- The Martyrs Brigade of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub announced that its position is stable and unshakeable, and that it will prevent bloodshed, while not compromising fundamental principles [of the state].

- The Martyrs Brigade of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub knows that men on the front line are best [positioned] to appreciate the dimensions of the scene and announces their sympathy to them in what they have reached, and refused in any way to question their concern for the homeland.

- We feel the suffering of civilians who have been displaced from areas [experiencing] clashes, taking their lives and families, and have not undertaken any criminal actions, and we bless them for every effort that they suffer.

- The Martyr Brigades of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub confirms that the war is not for the purpose of the sane, and cannot continue without end, but we are prepared for war - only - for the purpose of bringing peace.

- We, the Martyr Brigades of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub condemn the continuation of subversive and criminal acts inside greater Tripoli, and we announce our support for the capital's security forces.

- While emphasizing these points, we address those who think they are capable of destabilizing security or restoring the time before 17 February 2011, to those we say that we will be for you to look out for, and if you return, "we will return."

Martyr Brigades of Zawiyat al-Mahjoub

Issued 26 April 2015, Rajab 1436

[Stamped by 9 brigades]