Ceasefire Agreement (Zawiyya Agreement)

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Ceasefire Agreement (Zawiyya Agreement)
Date: 4 Sep 2018
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: Representatives of the Government of National Accord, military commanders, security apparatuses and armed groups present in and around the Capital [UNSMIL Statement]

[21 Signatories, illegible]
Third parties: "Signed under the auspices of Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya Dr. Ghassan Salame" [according to UNSMIL Statement]
Description: Seven-point ceasefire providing for an end to hostilities and any action potentially interpreted as hostile; avoidance of civilian and collateral damage, and reopening of Mitiga Airport and roads out of Tripoli.

Agreement document: LY_180904_Ceasefire Agreement_EN.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 was supported by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) who invited dialogue between the signing parties and officially congratulated them for reaching an agreement.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement seems to be liked to the national process. It was supported by UNSMIL and was signed under the auspices of Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, Dr. Ghassan Salame. The agreement follows "the United Nations’ deep concern over the violence and humanitarian harm resulting from the armed conflict in Tripoli" and states that "further dialogue will be established by the United Nations". Finally, representative of the Libyan interim government, the Government of National Accord, are parties to the agreement.
Name of Locale: Tripoli
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.886857, 13.190397
Participant type: Central state actor
Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Page 1, On the basis of the United Nations’ deep concern over the violence and humanitarian harm resulting from the armed conflict in Tripoli [...]
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

This Agreement is among the signatories below;

On the basis of the United Nations’ deep concern over the violence and humanitarian harm resulting from the armed conflict in Tripoli, and the offer of the United Nations Secretary General for his Special Representative to facilitate an agreement between the various Libyan parties;

The Parties agree to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis, particularly a cessation of hostilities and an appropriate monitoring mechanism;

If the various parties demonstrate genuine and full respect for the commitments below, further dialogue will be established by the United Nations and will be dedicated to discussing the appropriate security arrangements in the Capital.

Upon the signing of this Agreement, the Parties to this Agreement hereby commit to:

I. Cease all hostilities;

II. Halt any further hostile movement that would hamper implementation of the ceasefire;

III. Ensure civilians are not put at risk and human rights are respected as stipulated by national and international laws;

IV. Protect all private and public properties;

V. Ensure the reopening of Mitiga airport as well as all roads in and out of the Capital;

VI. Refrain from taking any action that may lead to armed confrontation including all movement of forces, ammunition resupply, or any other action that could be viewed as generating tensions;

VII. Ensure that all groups under their command shall observe this Agreement.

4 September 2018