Al-Fatah Peace Declaration

Country/entity
Kenya
Region
Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name
Al-Fatah Peace Declaration
Date
29 Sep 1993
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature
Inter-group
Peace process
Kenya Local Agreements
Parties
Find appended a list of signatories to the declaration.
CC.
District Commissioner,
Wajir
Provincial Commissioner,
North Eastern Province,
Garissa
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the
President -In charge of Internal Security
United Nations -UNICEF & WFP
GTZ
All NGOs
All MPs -Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group
The Mass Media
Third parties
-
Description
Agreement between major clans in the Wajir district to bring inter-clan fighting, and banditry to an end.

Local agreement properties

Process type
Informal but persistent process
Rationale
The Wajir process leading to the Al Fatah declaration took place in a context of a persistent practice of signing local agreements but it was not supported by a formal structured process. The process was initiated and driven by local community activists, even though later there was buy-in from the Red Cross, and then the government.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
No
Link to national process: articulated rationale
The agreement relates specifically to local incidences of cross-border violence and insecurity, and makes no reference to a national peace process. Nor do accounts of the process by peacebuilders involved in the Wajir peace process.
Name of Locale
Wajir
Nature of Locale
Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
1.750391, 40.057224
Participant type
Central state actor
Local state actor
Local armed group
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)
Not mentioned in the agreement, but according to Abdi and Mason (2019) the process was mediated firstly by an informal women's group, then local, non-aligned tribes, and finally the state became involved as a third party.
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
Central state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List
Page 1, Untitled preamble
(a) Taking stock of the increasing intensity of inter-clan fighting between the major clans in Wajir district and especially between Degodia and the Ajuran clans which have continued to claim lives of tens of people, many of them children, women, and innocent;
(b) Considering one increasing insecurity in the district in which violent robberies, looting if property and highway robberies affecting them major roads connecting Wajir and Nairobi have continued to take place with alarming frequencies;
(c) Dismayed with the recent callous murder of the late Jeff Buttler and the serious injury of Bob McCarthy both working with UNICEF and the subsequent suspension of NGO activities in the district;
(d) apprehensive of the imminent danger posed for the entire district the banditry menace and clan clashes.
Cattle rustling/banditry
Page 1,
2. That during this cease fire, livestock stolen from Ogaden clans by Degodia and vice versa be mutually returned within 7 days effective from 1st October 1993.

Page 1,
4. That Wajir people without distinction will work as a united people to liminate the banditry menace in the district. To realize this, the government is urged to work closely with the various panel of peace committees from the district headquarters to the sub-location level, who will monitor the implementation of this peace agreement and advice the authorities in the best method of eliminating the banditry menace.

Page 1,
7. That from the date of this ceasefire, the traditional law pertaining to blood feud will apply to those who commit murder namely the payment of hundred camels for a man and fifty camels for a women. In the case of stock theft, the rule of collective punishment involving a whole group of people will be applied.

Page 2,
10. That the Provincial Administration being the executive [illegible] of the government, should instill discipline and sense of duty in the Security personnel as well as Chiefs and District Officers, so that officer working in areas where banditry menance will appear to increase instead of decrease after the implementation of this peace agreement will be responsible.

Page 2,
12. That the government considers the formation of a specific force to be deployed specifically for the purpose of fighting the banditry menace. It is recommended that task force comprise mainly local officers from administration and police force.
Social cover

No specific mention.

Page 1:

APPENDIX A:

A1 Fatah Peace Declaration 29/9/93

(a) Taking stock of the increasing intensity of inter-clan fighting between the major clans in Wajir district and especially between Degodia and the Ajuran clans which have continued to claim lives of tens of people, many of them children, women and innocent;

(b) Considering one increasing insecurity in the district in which violent robberies, looting of property and highway robberies affecting them major roads connecting Wajir and Nairobi have continued to take place with alarming frequencies;

(c) Dismayed with the recent callous murder of the late Jeff Buttler and the serious injury of Bob McCarthy both working with UNICEF and the subsequent suspension of NGO activities in the district;

(d) Apprehensive of the imminent danger posed for the entire district the banditry menace and the clan clashes.

Leaders from the major clans namely twenty-five elected and opinion leaders each from Degodia, Ajuran and Ogaden clans respectively as well as five leaders from Gurreh and Murulle clans met to deliberate on the causes of the continuing internecine strife with a view to bringing the problem to an end.

The joint leaders peace meeting taking place of Al Fatah Madrassa in Wajir township between 27th and 27th September, 1993 makes the following resolutions:

1. That the inter clan fighting and stock theft be stopped immediately and a cease fire be effected from the 29th day of September, 1993.

2. That during this cease fire, livestock stolen from Ogaden clans by Degodia and vice versa be mutually returned within seven days effective from 1st October, 1993.

3. That in order to clear the main Wajir-Nairobi road of gangestry, three sets of committees be formed with specific responsibilities of clearing specified areas namely:

(a) Habaswein-Lag-bogol

(b) Lagbogol-Leheley, and

(c) Leheley-Wajir sections of the road of the highway gangsters.

The peace committees working in these various zones will involve elders, leaders and security personnel comprising local officers drawn from the administration police in Wajir district.

4. That Wajir people without distinction will work as a united people to eliminate the banditry menace in the district.

To realize this, the government is urged to work closely with the various panels of peace committees from the district headquarters to the sub-location level, who will monitor the implementation of this peace agreement and advice the authorities on the best method of eliminating the banditry menace.

5. That all minority clans in the district should join hands with the major clans in this peace campaign,

6. That all those persons or families who have deserted their homes or grazing areas or watering places, should go back immediately to their areas and enjoy peace.

7. That from the date of this ceasefire, the traditional law pertaining to blood leud will apply to those who commit murder namely the payment of hundred camels for a man and fiftv camels for a women.

In the case of stock theft, the rule of collective punishment involving whole groups of

people will be applied.

Page 2:

8. That a standing committee comprising eight people from each of the major clans as well as two from the smaller clans will be formed at the district level to work with the District Security) Committee for the purpose of restoring peace in the district.

9. That all clans must begin to persuade armed elements among them to submit or surrender their arms to the government.

10. That the Provincial Administration being the executive arm of the government, should instill discipline and sense of duty in the Security personnel as well as Chiefs and District Officers, so that officers working in areas where banditry menace will appear to increase instead of decrease after the implementation of this peace programme will be responsible.

11. That all NGO's namely, World Vision International, African Inland Church, Care International, Oxfam, African Muslim Agency, the United Nations especially Unicefand WFP, and Bilateral Agencies specifically GTZ be requested to come back and resume their operations in the district.

The people of Wajir and the local administration will ensure that adequate security arrangements are made for the same personnel and their operations.

12. That the government considers the formation of a specific force to be deployed specifically for the purpose of fighting the banditry menace.

It is recommended that task force comprise mainly local officers from administration and police force.

13. That henceforth the government should take firm action against those who are found to incite people to violent fan clan clashes.

14. That Wajir people will make a public demonstration on September, 1993 condemning the inter-clan conflict and the case murder of the late Jeff Buttler and to manifest there to have all humanitarian agencies back in the district.

Find appended list of signatories to the declaration.

CC.

District Commissioner,

Wajir

Provincial Commissioner,

North Eastern Province,

Garissa

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the

President -Incharge of Internal Security

United Nations -UNICEF & WFP

GTZ

All NGOs

All MPs -Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group

The Mass Media