Commitment to a unilateral ceasefire from Youssouf Toloba and his armed group, Dan Nan Ambassagou

Country/entity
Mali
Region
Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name
Commitment to a unilateral ceasefire from Youssouf Toloba and his armed group, Dan Nan Ambassagou
Date
27 Sep 2018
Agreement status
Unilateral document
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Inter-group
Peace process
Mali Local Processes
Parties
For the Dan Nan Ambassagou group


For the general staff

Youssouf TOLOBA


For national coordination

Mamoudou GOUDIENKILE


For the Bankass coordination

Oumar GUINDO


For the Douentza coordination

Seydou MAIGA


For the Bandiagara coordination

Boureima SAGARA


For the Koro coordination

Alhaty KAMOKO
Third parties
Unsigned, but agreement refers to mediation process undertaken by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue
Description
Short unilateral ceasefire declaration in which Dan Nan Ambassagou, a non-state armed group led by Youssouf Toloba, commits itself to immediately stop perpetrating violence. The group declares to sanction violations committed by its members, to oppose theft, and to raise awareness of the benefits of peace. It also calls on the Malian state and its partners to, among other things, provide humanitarian assistance, accelerate the DDR process, and support the families of conflict victims.

Local agreement properties

Process type
Formal structured process
Isolated example
Rationale
This unilateral ceasefire was announced in the context of a 'seven-month mediation process undertaken by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, with the support of the regional authorities, on behalf of the Malian Government' (p.1). Limited contextual research does not suggest a track record of signing such agreements (Dan Nan Ambassagou was founded in 2016).
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
No
Link to national process: articulated rationale
The agreement was negotiated outside of the national-level peace process as it deals with conflict in central Mali. Dan Nan Ambassagou does not take part in the national-level peace negotiations at the time of writing.
Name of Locale
Koro, Bankass, Bandiagara, and Douentza cercles (Mopti region)
Nature of Locale
Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
14.388871, -3.329351
Participant type
Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar
Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references)
Mediator: Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, with the support of the regional authorities, on behalf of the Malian Government
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List
Pages 1-2, Chapter I: Reasons for Hunters’ Involvement in the Conflict, Youssouf TOLOBA and his militia group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU recognize that the following events are the origin of the tensions / conflicts in the area:
- Attacks and repeated looting of villages and hamlets by armed individuals;
- Targeted assassinations of hunters and influential personalities; Massive theft of cattle;
- Attacking travellers;
- Lack of authorities and security forces in most localities;
- Feeling that the neighbouring community is joining forces with armed groups to get revenge against the original hunters' community;
- Frustration due to unresolved or badly resolved conflicts regarding access to natural
resources that are shared between communities.

Page 3, Chapter II: Strengthening the peace process between the Dogon and Peuhl communities, Section II: Access to pastoral resources (water points, passage of animals etc.), Article 4: Apart from the theft and looting of the cattle, the exclusion of certain users from access to water points is one of the major causes of conflicts in the area.
Cattle rustling/banditry
Page 1, Chapter I: Reasons for Hunters’ Involvement in the Conflict, Youssouf TOLOBA and his militia group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU recognize that the following events are the origin of the tensions / conflicts in the area:
...
- Targeted assassinations of hunters and influential personalities; Massive theft of cattle;

Page 2, Chapter II: Strengthening the peace process between the Dogon and Peuhl communities, Section I: Commitment to a ceasefire and negotiations, Article 2: With a view to the effective implementation of the unilateral ceasefire, Youssouf TOLOSA and his armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU commit themselves to:
...
• Oppose the theft / plundering of livestock regardless of its ownership;

Page 3, Chapter II: Strengthening the peace process between the Dogon and Peuhl communities, Section II: Access to pastoral resources (water points, passage of animals etc.), Article 4: Apart from the theft and looting of the cattle, the exclusion of certain users from access to water points is one of the major causes of conflicts in the area. Thus, Youssouf TOLOBA and his armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU commit to no longer interfere with conflicts relating to accessing natural resources and to let the authorities manage these. He also states that revitalizing traditional spatial management mechanisms will be an important tool in the peaceful use of pastoral resources.
Social cover

No specific mention.

Commitment to a unilateral ceasefire from Youssouf TOLOBA and his armed group, Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU

September 2018

Preamble

In accordance with the "Dan Nan Ambassagou Militia Declaration" dated September 16, 2018, Youssouf TOLOBA and his group armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU confirm their commitment to the peace process;

Reunited in Sevare as part of the seven-month mediation process undertaken by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, with the support of the regional authorities, on behalf of the Malian Government, which will support the peace efforts of the communities of Central Mali;

Youssouf TOLOBA and his group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU agree to follow, in full and in good faith, the provisions of this agreement.

Chapter I:

Reasons for Hunters’ Involvement in the Conflict

Youssouf TOLOBA and his militia group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU recognize that the following events are the origin of the tensions / conflicts in the area:

- Attacks and repeated looting of villages and hamlets by armed individuals;

- Targeted assassinations of hunters and influential personalities;

Massive theft of cattle;

- Attacking travellers;

- Lack of authorities and security forces in most localities;

- Feeling that the neighbouring community is joining forces with armed groups to get revenge against the original hunters' community;

- Frustration due to unresolved or badly resolved conflicts regarding access to natural resources that are shared between communities.

Chapter II:

Strengthening the peace process between the Dogon and Peuhl communities

Section I:

Commitment to a ceasefire and negotiations

Article 1:

With this commitment, Youssouf TOLOBA and his Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU armed group declare a unilateral ceasefire for the peaceful coexistence of the area's communities.

Article 2:

With a view to the effective implementation of the unilateral ceasefire, Youssouf TOLOSA and his armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU commit themselves to:

• Stop all military clashes for any reason;

• Make a strong appeal to its fighters to immediately stop any violence and to report to the competent military authorities in the event of threats or attacks;

• Sanction any violations of the present ceasefire that may be committed by its members;

• Strongly condemn any acts of aggression and violence committed by members of their community;

• Oppose the theft / plundering of livestock regardless of its ownership;

• Raise awareness among young people and opinion leaders about the benefits of Peace;

• Urge the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the security of persons and their property in the area concerned and in the entire region of Mopti;

• Support legitimate figures at a local level to help find amicable solutions to communities coexisting.

Article 3:

To support efforts for peaceful coexistence between the communities, Youssouf TOLOSA and his armed group Dan Nan AMSASSAGOU ask:

- The State of Mali and its partners to work to provide humanitarian assistance commensurate with the needs of all communities in the area affected by the crisis:

food aid, medical care, repair, construction and rehabilitation of basic social infrastructures (health structures, schools, water points, etc.).

They also ask for support for economic recovery through the financing of activities such as cattle trade, transport, stock rebuilding, and so on.

- The State to provide specific support to the families of the victims (who died during clashes);

- The State of Mali to accelerate the implementation of the Algiers Agreement by completing the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration process (DDR), and to put in place a process to demobilize key armed figures who have links to various parts of the communities.

This DDR process will help to recover a significant number of young people who fuel violence on behalf of their community, and help to catalogue and recover weapons circulating in the area.

- The authorities to strengthen traditional and religious establishments at a local level so that they are able, once again, to work to prevent and manage tensions and conflicts in an impartial manner.

Section II:

Access to pastoral resources (water points, passage of animals etc.)

Article 4:

Apart from the theft and looting of the cattle, the exclusion of certain users from access to water points is one of the major causes of conflicts in the area.

Thus, Youssouf TOLOBA and his armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU commit to no longer interfere with conflicts relating to accessing natural resources and to let the authorities manage these.

He also states that revitalizing traditional spatial management mechanisms will be an important tool in the peaceful use of pastoral resources.

Article 5:

Youssouf TOLOBA and his group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU ask the national and regional authorities to organize campaigns to promote local pastoral resource management conventions.

Section III:

Respect of customs by the communities

Article 6:

Youssouf TOLOBA and his armed group Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU are committed to restoring the moral authority of traditional and religious establishments, to enable them to play their role effectively in the appeasement of social tensions and aid of peaceful coexistence.

Article 7:

To build trust between communities and community groups, governments and partners need to increase inter- and intra-community activities in the area.

Chapter III:

General Conditions and Recommendations

Article 8:

To ensure the implementation of this commitment, a monitoring committee will be set up.

It will meet Youssouf TOLOBA, representatives of his Dan Nan AMBASSAGOU armed group and of communities benefiting from his cause.

This committee will have the following mission:

• Ensure the implementation of this commitment with by combatants and the communities.

Prevent and manage acts and behaviours that may lead to non-compliance with this commitment.

• To report to the regional authorities and the defence and security forces in the area on all issues related to the implementation of this commitment.

• Appeal to, in the event of failure to comply with this commitment, any party able to put an end to this.

Article 9:

Any failure to follow or any difference of interpretation of this commitment will be settled amicably.

The monitoring committee will meet to discuss and find any solutions.

Article 10:

This commitment will come into force from the date of signature.

In witness whereof the group has agreed to this commitment.

Signed in Mopti on September 27, 2018