Draft agreement of Western Tribal elders on the battle of al-Zawiyya

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Draft agreement of Western Tribal elders on the battle of al-Zawiyya
Date: 31 Jan 2016
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: Reconciliation Committee;

High Council for Reconciliation of Kiklah, Jadu, al-Waritah, al-Qitharah, al-Qisar, al-Ziwarah, al-Jamil, Sarman, Sibratah, Raqdalin, Zultan, al-‘Ajilat, al- Mashashiyya, al-Say’an, al-Juwamid, Hakma’, ‘Ain Zarah, and al-Islaba’ah.
Third parties: -
Description: Short ceasefire agreement calling for a ceasefire and the handover of wanted persons according to law (of the lifting of social cover of those persons). The copy of the agreement is not signed, nonetheless it states that the points were agreed.

Agreement document: LY_161031_Draft agreement of Western Tribal elders on Zawiyyah_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_161031_Draft agreement of Western Tribal elders on Zawiyyah_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: -> Local issues only; external support mechanism; culture of signing The agreement was supported and signed by the locally-based Reconciliation Committee and by the High Council for Reconciliation in a number of cities. Moreover, it is clearly embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements to bring an end to violence between the tribes inhabiting this locale.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement does not articulate any link to the national process and relates to a highly localised conflict between local actors. It was signed by locally- and self-established mechanisms created to bring an end to local violence in the context of the national conflict.
Name of Locale: al-Zawiyyah
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.761875, 12.730607
Participant type: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
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
Grievance List: Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it seems that the confrontation between the tribes of al-Zawiyyah lies at the centre of the dispute.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: Page 1, 2. The handover of wanted persons by all the tribes in al-Zawiyyah in accordance with a legal arrest warrant. Wanted persons are delivered to the competent authorities. In those cases where a handover is not possible, the social cover of killers will be lifted [by the tribes]

Draft Agreement between the Elders of the Western Tribes on the Battle of al-Zawiyyah

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

On Monday, October 31, 2016, in the city of al-Zawiyyah al-‘Amarah, the Reconciliation Committee was informed by the High Council for Reconciliation of Kiklah, Jadu, al-Waritah, al-Qitharah, al-Qisar, al-Ziwarah, al-Jamil, Sarman, Sibratah, Raqdalin, Zultan, al-‘Ajilat, al- Mashashiyya, al-Say’an, al-Juwamid, Hakma’, ‘Ain Zarah, and al-Islaba’ah.

A group of dignitaries and elders from the tribes of al-Zawiyyah met and it was agreed by the attendees from each tribe that:

1. There will be an immediate ceasefire between all believers.

2. The handover of wanted persons by all the tribes in al-Zawiyyah in accordance with a legal arrest warrant.

Wanted persons are delivered to the competent authorities.

In those cases where a handover is not possible, the social cover of killers will be lifted [by the tribes]

3. All tribes commit to not fight among themselves.

4. A committee will be formed consisting of all the tribes of al-Zawiyyah to follow up on the implementation on the terms of this agreement.