Ramada Peace Agreement

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Country/entity: Somalia
Puntland
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Ramada Peace Agreement
Date: 4 Dec 2005
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Somali Civil War (1991 - )
Originally spurred by centre-peripheral tensions, fighting broke out in 1981 between the regime of President Said Barre and the Somali National Movement, a militia primarily consisting of members from the northern Ishaq clan. Fighting intensified in the late 1980s as more clan-based militias arose. President Barre’s regime collapsed in late 1991 and as a result the UN intervened. However persistent attacks on the UN’s forces forced a withdrawal in 1994. From the mid- to late 1990s, the character of the conflict shifted as warlords fought for access to rents. Also during this period, two different peace agreements arose; the Sodere Declaration, which was mediated by Ethiopia and supported by IGAD, and the Cairo Accord, which was brokered by Egypt. Fighting, already noticeably lessened compared to the early 1990s, decreased and the more amicable environment paved the way for the Transitional Government to be formed in 2000 (replaced in 2004 by the Transitional Federal Government).

Nonetheless, opposition to the TFG arose in the form of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which by early 2006 had taken control of most of southern Somalia until they were ousted by an armed intervention by Ethiopia in December 2006. As a result, the ICU splintered. Hard-line ICU members formed the Takfiri organization, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, and launched a guerrilla campaign against the TFG. Another faction of the ICU fled to Djibouti and formed the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, which was absorbed into the ruling TFG after successful negotiations in 2007.

To deal with the new round of fighting, the UN-mandated AMISOM force was deployed in 2007. Since then, insecurity has fluctuated between the urban and rural areas as the al-Shabaab's territorial gains waver. Local militia leaders maintain de facto governance over communities. From 2009 to 2012, insecurity spilled over into the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean when Somali pirates seized, looted and ransomed ships. In 2014, 'Operation Indian Ocean' was launched and in parallel with infighting among al-Shabaab, the organisation's position in Somalia has diminished slightly. However, as evidenced by large-scale attacks by al-Shabaab in northern Kenya throughout 2013-2015, the lack of security continues to destabilize the region. Al-Shabaab continues to launch surprise attacks with the aim of forcing out foreign military presence in Somalia. Targets include both military forces and civilians. The devastating attack in October 2017 in Mogadishu saw 587 fatalities and resulted in a renewed military offensive by the Somali government and African Union allies. Since 2017, the U.S. has increased its air strikes targeting al-Shabaab militants, and in December 2018 they announced to re-establish a permanent diplomatic mission in the country. Al-Shabaab has been characterized as a spoiler in the Somali peace process and have therefore been placed outside of any negotiations.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Somalia-Puntland Peace Process
Parties: Reer Mahad sub-clan;
Reer Khalaf sub-clan
Third parties: -
Description: Settlement between the Reer Mahad and Reer Khalaf exchanging reparations following a series of revenge killings between the two sub-clans.

Agreement document: SO_051204_Ramada Peace Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1,
2. In the second case of killings, the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Mahad should pay diya for the two deceased, 100 camels and an additional 20 camels as reverence, and 5,000, 000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses plus the two firearms, and offer two Godobtir (girls for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party.

Page 1,
3. In case of the killing of the Nabaddoon, who is a birmageydo (traditionally protected or “spared from the spear”), the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Khalaf to pay diya of 100 camels and 20 additional camels as respect, plus 5,000,000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses and the gun, and offer a Godobtir (girl for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party. A further $ 20,000 is to be paid as reverence to the Reer Mahad sub- clan.

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: Page 1,
2. In the second case of killings, the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Mahad should pay diya for the two deceased, 100 camels and an additional 20 camels as reverence, and 5,000, 000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses plus the two firearms, and offer two Godobtir (girls for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party.

Page 1,
3. In case of the killing of the Nabaddoon, who is a birmageydo (traditionally protected or “spared from the spear”), the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Khalaf to pay diya of 100 camels and 20 additional camels as respect, plus 5,000,000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses and the gun, and offer a Godobtir (girl for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party. A further $ 20,000 is to be paid as reverence to the Reer Mahad sub- clan.

The Ramada Peace Agreement, 2005

The outcome of the agreement can be summarized as follows:

1. In the case of the first killing at the checkpoint, the committee agreed to follow the judgment of the court since the offenders acknowledged the killing and the court ruled on that basis.

The committee concluded diya payment should be 100 camels, an additional 20 camels as respect and 5,000,000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses and the handgun, apportioned by the two sub-clans (Reer Mahad and Reer Khalaf) to which the perpetrators belong.

2. In the second case of killings, the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Mahad should pay diya for the two deceased, 100 camels and an additional 20 camels as reverence, and 5,000, 000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses plus the two firearms, and offer two Godobtir (girls for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party.

3. In case of the killing of the Nabaddoon, who is a birmageydo (traditionally protected or “spared from the spear”), the committee ordered the sub-clan of Reer Khalaf to pay diya of 100 camels and 20 additional camels as respect, plus 5,000,000 Somali Shillings for funeral expenses and the gun, and offer a Godobtir (girl for marriage) to heal the aggrieved party.

A further $ 20,000 is to be paid as reverence to the Reer Mahad sub- clan.

On the first point, the offenders were taken to a court in Gaalka’yo and convicted to 10 years imprisonment and diya of 120 camels.

The family of the deceased initially refused the ruling and instead demanded capital punishment for the murder but ultimately accepted diya.