Country/entity

Lebanon

Region

Middle East and North Africa

Agreement name

Tripoli Memorandum

Date

8 Sep 2008

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

Yes

Agreement/conflict level

Intrastate/local conflict

Lebanon's Political Crisis (2005 – )

The current political crisis in Lebanon is characterized by the conflation of internal and external agendas, transforming Lebanon in a proxy battle ground between other countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, while Syria-related security concerns continue to spill over into the country.
The assassination of Lebanon’s President Rafiq Hariri on the 14 February 2005, in which the Syrian government was implicated, sparked public outrage in Lebanon and fuelled protests that would eventually lead to the withdrawal of Syrian peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. This gave birth to the two oppositional groups March 14 Alliance and March 8 Alliance. Elections in May and June that year would usher in a new government, wherein March 8 Alliance, led by the Free Patriotic Movement, with support from Hezbollah, Amal and the Progressive Socialist Party would win 45 per cent of the seats. A year later, in July 2006, Hezbollah sparked a 34-day conflict with Israel following a rocket attack and the capture of three Israeli soldiers. Although both sides declared victory following the implementation of Resolution 1701, Hezbollah is widely considered to have been the relative victor. With its popularity boosted, and militarily emboldened, the parliamentary opposition announced the desire to form a unity government. Sceptical to the increased power that would grant the opposition, the Saudi-backed Lebanese government refused. In response the head of Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah declared a deadlock in December 2006 to last until new parliamentary elections in 2009. Nasrallah also expressed an unwillingness to escalate the situation. Nonetheless, following a string of government crack-downs on Hezbollah, fighting broke out in May 2008 wherein Hezbollah militants took control of West Beirut. Fighting was eventually resolved with the Doha Declaration in 2008.
Uprisings against the Assad regime in Syria in 2011 further deepened the division between the two factions. In 2012, the two camps signed the Baabda Declaration, agreeing to the principle of neutrality towards Syria. However, in 2013 Hezbollah violated the agreement by giving the Syrian government military support. In 2016, Michel Aoun was appointed as president, breaking a two-year deadlock, and in May 2018 the first parliamentary elections were held in nine years. It took nine months to form the government, however, a renewed political deadlock ensued in November 2019 after the resignation of prime minister Hariri following unprecedented mass anti-government protests. Political turmoil continues to define Lebanon’s internal politics with earlier mass protests breaking out in 2009, 2011 and 2015.

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Lebanon's Political Crisis (2005 – )

Stage

Pre-negotiation/process

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Lebanon peace process

Parties

Arab Democratic Party (Jabal Mohsen); Sunni Militias (Bab al-Tabanneh)

Third parties

-

Description

Six-point agreement resolving the local spill-over of violence related to the Cypress Spring (2005) and the armed excursion of Hezbollah in May 2008 towards the Siniora Government. Pre-negotiation agreement provides for reaching an agreement between local figures; holding a state-sponsored meeting between the players of the city; call on the army command to set a timeframe for IDP return; provision of temporary shelter for IDPs or rent allowances; speed up assessment of damages; call on the Prime minister to support financially.

Agreement document

LB_080908_Tripoli Memorandum.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Isolated example

Rationale

-> Link to national level; external support mechanism; no culture of signing This is a pre-negotiation agreement that is apparently not supported by any formally-established mechanism. No element supports the case of a culture of signing agreements, as this is the first initiative to put an end to the conflict in Tripoli.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

Yes

Link to national process: articulated rationale

The agreement clearly articulates a link to the national level: Page 1, Page 1, ... 1 – Reach an agreement among all leaders and figures regarding the definitive preservation of peace, security and stability, and abstain from having recourse to violence and weapons, regardless of the circumstances. Page 1, ... 2.– Hold a state-sponsored meeting among all the city’s players. Page 1, 6 – Call on the prime minister to provide all necessary compensations.

Name of Locale

Tripoli

Nature of Locale

City

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

34.440182, 35.848476

Participant type

Local armed group
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)

No specific mention.

Grievance List

[Summary] return of IDPs, provision of their shelter and security, and provision of material reparations.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.

Tripoli Memorandum

8 September 2008

All categories and factions in Tripoli form a single social fabric, which believes in the project of a

strong, fair state.

Tripoli is an ancient city with roots reaching deep into the recesses of history.

Throughout the decades following Lebanon’s independence, it has played its national role as a safe cradle of fraternal coexistence and a fertile soil for the freedom of opinion, thought and belief.

It is the heir of a glorious heritage and has never experienced extremism and isolation;

rather, it always was a symbol of moderation, openness and assimilation of others.

Nowadays, Tripoli rejects all forms of strife and refuses to become a stage for settling old scores on its soil.

It is looking

forward to having security services, especially the army and the ISF, play an active and essential role as they represent a safety valve of stability and sustainable civil peace.

Resolving the crisis that the city and its inhabitants have gone through calls for the following measures:

1 – Reach an agreement among all leaders and figures regarding the definitive preservation of peace, security and stability, and abstain from having recourse to violence and weapons, regardless of the circumstances.

2 – Hold a state-sponsored meeting among all the city’s players.

3 – Call on the Army Command in the North to set a timeframe for the return of the displaced to their homes and secure all details pertaining to their security.

4 – Provide temporary, alternative housing for those citizens whose houses are too deteriorated to allow their return, by giving them rent allowances until their houses are restored and their return is made possible.

5 – Speed up the process of assessing human and material damages by the Higher Relief Council and all relevant institutions in order to allow for the urgent and speedy payment of compensations for the victims.

6 – Call on the prime minister to provide all necessary compensations.

Source:

Now Media, Tripoli Memorandum, 9 September 2008,

https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nowspecials/the_tripoli_memorandum_signed_on_september_8