Closing statement from the reconciliation meeting between Zintan and Zawiyya

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Closing statement from the reconciliation meeting between Zintan and Zawiyya
Date: 17 Apr 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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Libyan local processes
Parties: People of Zintan and Zawiyyah
Two signatories, signed and stamped.
Third parties: -
Description: 8-point agreement of principles agreeing to (1) unity of Libya, (2) sanctity of Libyan blood and working toward ending conflict, (3) national reconciliation; (4) fighting against extremism and organised crime; (5) unifying the security institutions; (6) forming a joint committee between the two cities; (7) unifying views on forming a single unity government; (8) returning IDPs.

Agreement document: LY_180417_Closing state from the reconciliation meeting btw Zintan and Zawiyya_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_180417_Closing state from the reconciliation meeting btw Zintan and Zawiyya_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Informal but persistent process
Rationale: -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing Although it is unclear whether the agreement was supported by a formal and national mechanism, it is clearly embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements in this locale since early-2015.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement aims to bring a unified position between two opposing cities in relation to the national level process, including "[agreeing on] the unity of Libya" and "[bringing] together the political points of view regarding the formation of a single national government". The agreement finishes with the phrasing "Long live a free and stable Libya.
Name of Locale: Zintan, Zawiyah
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.542742, 12.282323
Participant type: Local state actor
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, Allah said: “The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers. And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy.”

Page 1, And He said: “So be mindful of Allah and settle your affairs.”

Page 1, Long live a free and stable Libya, and peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
Grievance List: Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists eight provisions to address local grievances.

Page 1,
1. The unity of Libya
2. The sanctity of Libyan blood, and the importance of working to ensure that there are no
armed conflicts or threats of armed conflict
3. Calling for a comprehensive national reconciliation through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue
4. Fighting against extremism and organized crime, and taking a clear position against them
5. Working to support and unify the military and security institutions
6. Working to form a joint committee to solve the problems between the two cities
7. Working to bring together the political points of view regarding the formation of a single
national government
8. Working to ensure the return of the forcibly displaced and the IDPs, inside and outside the
area
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Closing Statement for the Reconciliation Meeting Between the People of Zintan and Zawiyah

Allah said:

“The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers.

And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy.”

And He said:

“So be mindful of Allah and settle your affairs.”

On this day, Tuesday, 17/04/2018, the people of the cities agree to the following points:

The unity of Libya

The sanctity of Libyan blood, and the importance of working to ensure that there are no armed conflicts or threats of armed conflict

Calling for a comprehensive national reconciliation through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue

Fighting against extremism and organized crime, and taking a clear position against them

Working to support and unify the military and security institutions

Working to form a joint committee to solve the problems between the two cities

Working to bring together the political points of view regarding the formation of a single national government

Working to ensure the return of the forcibly displaced and the IDPs, inside and outside the area

Long live a free and stable Libya, and peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

Written in the city of Al Zintan on 17/04/2018

[SIGNED and STAMPED] [SIGNED and STAMPED]