Statement on the Current Events in the Capital Tripoli

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Statement on the Current Events in the Capital Tripoli
Date: 15 Mar 2017
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: Government
Peace process: Libyan peace process
Parties: The Presidential Council, the Defence Minister, the Interior Minister, the Command of the Presidential Guard, all the deans of the municipalities of Misurata, Central Tripoli and Souq al-Juma’a, the Security Director of Tripoli, the Command of the Military Area of Tripoli, the Supreme Council for Reconciliation of Greater Tripoli, the Council of Elders for Consultation and Reform of the Municipality of Misurata and a number of commanders of the brigades of Tripoli and Misurata.
Third parties: -
Description: Ceasefire agreement between rival factions in Tripoli. The agreement itself is backed by the Government of National Assembly in Tripoli. Agreement calls for an immediate ceasefire, and assigns various Brigades loyal to the Ministry of Defence to secure the city. An implementation committee is formed consisting of of the two Ministries of Interior and Defence within 30 days.

Agreement document: LY_170315_Statement on the Current Events in the Capital Tripoli_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_170315_Statement on the Current Events in the Capital Tripoli_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: -> Link to national level; external support mechanism; culture of signing The agreement between warring armed faction was supported by the UN-installed Presidency Council and is embedded into constant negotiation efforts of the UN and central government to bring an end to the violent confrontations in the capital.
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. It was backed by the Government of National Assembly in Tripoli, brokered by the UN-installed Presidency Council and was signed by a number of central state actors.
Name of Locale: Tripoli
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.886894, 13.188079
Participant type: Central state actor
Local state actor
Local armed group
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): UN-installed Presidency Council
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Central state actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Page 1, May Allah protect Libya
Grievance List: Page 1, Due to the current security situation inside the capital Tripoli and the unfortunate events that have claimed the lives of citizens [...]
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Statement on the Current Events in the Capital Tripoli

Due to the current security situation inside the capital Tripoli and the unfortunate events that have claimed the lives of citizens and because of the legal and moral responsibility to our agreement regarding social security and peace, every one of these met:

The Presidential Council, the Defence Minister, the Interior Minister, the Command of the Presidential Guard, all the deans of the municipalities of Misurata, Central Tripoli and Souq al-Juma’a, the Security Director of Tripoli, the Command of the Military Area of Tripoli, the Supreme Council for Reconciliation of Greater Tripoli, the Council of Elders for Consultation and Reform of the Municipality of Misurata and a number of commanders of the brigades of Tripoli and Misurata.

They agreed on the following:

1- There will be an immediate ceasefire in the capital Tripoli.

2- All the armed formations will leave the capital Tripoli, according to the principles of the political agreement.

3- All the detainees who are identified will be released.

4- The Affiliated 301st Brigade of the Defence Ministry and the Security Directorate of Tripoli will be assigned to secure the headquarters of the Interior Ministry.

5- The Affiliated 17th Security Band of the Central Security will be assigned to secure the Airport Road.

6- The Command of the Presidential Guard will assign the 14th Brigade and the 155th Brigade of the Presidential Guard to secure the National Transitional Council.

7- A committee will be formed in which the two Ministries of Defence and Interior will participate, in order to continue the evacuation of all the places in which the armed formations are operating in and to re-station them outside the capital. [

This will happen] over a period which will not exceed 30 days from the date of the release of the statement.

May Allah protect Libya

Released in Tripoli on 15 March 2017