Unilateral ceasefire agreement signed between Gutsi assailants and the presidential delegation on 9 September 2020
- Country/entityDemocratic Republic of Congo
- RegionAfrica (excl MENA)
- Agreement nameUnilateral ceasefire agreement signed between Gutsi assailants and the presidential delegation on 9 September 2020
- Date9 Sep 2020
- Agreement statusUnilateral document
- Interim arrangementYes
- Agreement/conflict levelIntrastate/intrastate conflict ()
- StageCeasefire/related
- Conflict natureGovernment
- Peace processDRC: Eastern DRC processes
- PartiesPresident Tshisekedi's appointed delegation including former Ituri warlords.
Gutsi armed groups Leadership:
- Commander: Ndrodza Konaju Germain
- A certain Dhera Bura also signed the agreement.
(see original language document for images of signatures) - Third parties-
- DescriptionThis agreement is part of a series of dialogues between a touring presidential delegation and local armed groups in Ituri province, focusing on the Gutsi group specifically. The agreement calls for an immediate end to violence and attacks against civilians and against Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and Police Nationale Congolaise (PNC). The provisions address DDR programmes as well as establishing a joint team to monitor ceasefire or 'truce'. The agreement also addresses the need for the armed group to support free movement of civilians and leave open humanitarian corridors.
- Agreement document (original language)
Groups
- Children/youth
No specific mention.
- Disabled persons
No specific mention.
- Elderly/age
No specific mention.
- Migrant workers
No specific mention.
- Racial/ethnic/national group
No specific mention.
- Religious groups
No specific mention.
- Indigenous people
No specific mention.
- Other groups
No specific mention.
- Refugees/displaced personsGroups→Refugees/displaced persons→SubstantivePage 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 5.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to leave open a humanitarian corridor in order to assist displaced persons and populations in need of humanitarian aid. They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on their various trips. - Social class
No specific mention.
Gender
- Women, girls and gender
No specific mention.
- Men and boys
No specific mention.
- LGBTI
No specific mention.
- Family
No specific mention.
State definition
- Nature of state (general)
No specific mention.
- State configuration
No specific mention.
- Self determination
No specific mention.
- Referendum
No specific mention.
- State symbols
No specific mention.
- Independence/secession
No specific mention.
- Accession/unification
No specific mention.
- Border delimitation
No specific mention.
- Cross-border provision
No specific mention.
Governance
- Political institutions (new or reformed)
No specific mention.
- Elections
No specific mention.
- Electoral commission
No specific mention.
- Political parties reform
No specific mention.
- Civil societyPage 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 5.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to leave open a humanitarian corridor in order to assist displaced persons and populations in need of humanitarian aid. They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on their various trips.
Page 4, Section V. Final provisions:
Article 10.
The assailants based in GUTSI invite the Congolese government to put in place a mechanism for overseeing performance of this truce agreement, which shall consist of a joint team, including negotiators sent by the Head of State, the Congolese government and civilian society. - Traditional/religious leadersPage 2, PREAMBLE
...Whereas the Congolese Head of State has charged certain Ituri community leaders sent from Kinshasa with a peacekeeping mission in Ituri province;... - Public administration
No specific mention.
- Constitution
No specific mention.
Power sharing
- Political power sharing
No specific mention.
- Territorial power sharing
No specific mention.
- Economic power sharing
No specific mention.
- Military power sharing
No specific mention.
Human rights and equality
- Human rights/RoL general
No specific mention.
- Bill of rights/similar
No specific mention.
- Treaty incorporation
No specific mention.
- Civil and political rights
No specific mention.
- Socio-economic rights
No specific mention.
Rights related issues
- Citizenship
No specific mention.
- Democracy
No specific mention.
- Detention procedures
No specific mention.
- Media and communication
No specific mention.
- Mobility/accessPage 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 3.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to allow free movement of person and their property in Ituri Province.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 4.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to allow the civilian population to go about their business peacefully and freely in Ituri Province.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 5.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to leave open a humanitarian corridor in order to assist displaced persons and populations in need of humanitarian aid. They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on their various trips. - Protection measuresRights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civiliansPage 3, Section 1: Unilateral truce
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to put an end to hostilities in Ituri Province. The end of hostilities involves an end to attacks against FARDC, the PNC and the civilian population. - Other
No specific mention.
Rights institutions
- NHRI
No specific mention.
- Regional or international human rights institutions
No specific mention.
Justice sector reform
- Criminal justice and emergency law
No specific mention.
- State of emergency provisions
No specific mention.
- Judiciary and courts
No specific mention.
- Prisons and detention
No specific mention.
- Traditional Laws
No specific mention.
Socio-economic reconstruction
- Development or socio-economic reconstruction
No specific mention.
- National economic plan
No specific mention.
- Natural resources
No specific mention.
- International funds
No specific mention.
- BusinessPage 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 3.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to allow free movement of person and their property in Ituri Province. - Taxation
No specific mention.
- Banks
No specific mention.
Land, property and environment
- Land reform/rights
No specific mention.
- Pastoralist/nomadism rights
No specific mention.
- Cultural heritage
No specific mention.
- Environment
No specific mention.
- Water or riparian rights or access
No specific mention.
Security sector
- Security GuaranteesPage 2, PREAMBLE
Whereas the Congolese head of state made multiple calls on various armed groups active in the eastern DRC to cease hostilities;
Whereas the Congolese head of State called for an end to violence in Ituri during his visit to the Djugu territory in July 2019;
Whereas the Congolese head of state wishes and is committed to restoring the authrotiy of the State in Ituri province;...
Whereas it is necessary to restore peace and security to entities controlled by assailants based in Gutsi in Ituri Province;...
Being eager to participant and contribute to efforts to restore peace, security and retore the authority of the State in Ituri Province; - CeasefireSecurity sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provisionPage 3, Section 1: Unilateral truce
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to put an end to hostilities in Ituri Province. The end of hostilities involves an end to attacks against FARDC, the PNC and the civilian population. - PolicePage 3, Section 1: Unilateral truce
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to put an end to hostilities in Ituri Province. The end of hostilities involves an end to attacks against FARDC, the PNC and the civilian population. - Armed forcesPage 3, Section 1: Unilateral truce
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to put an end to hostilities in Ituri Province. The end of hostilities involves an end to attacks against FARDC, the PNC and the civilian population.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations:
Article 5.
... They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on their various trips. - DDRSecurity sector→DDR→DDR programmesPage 3, Section III. Accommodation
Article 6.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to gather their fighters at the sites provided by Congolese government technical services and/or their partners.
Page 3, Section III. Accommodation
Article 7.
During the accommodation period, the assailants based in GUTSI not having the means to support themselves, agree to accept food and non-food provisions from the Congolese government and/or its partners to ensure the survival of their fighters.
Page 4, Section IV. Community DDR Process:
Article 8.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to collaborate with the Congolese government on their disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion.
Page 4, Section IV. Community DDR Process:
Article 9.
The collaboration mentioned in Article 8 above shall depend on the outcome of talks which will be held in accordance with Article 2 of this Agreement. - Intelligence services
No specific mention.
- Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forcesPage 3, Article 2:
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to enter into talks with the Congolese government regarding the demands made in the specifications given to the delegation sent from Kinshasa by the Congolese Head of State within 72 hours.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations.
Article 3.
The FDBC agree to allow free movement of person and their property in Ituri Province.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations.
Article 4.
The FDBC agree to allow the civilian population to go about their business peacefully and freely in Ituri Province.
Page 3, Section II. On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations.
Article 5.
The FDBC agree to leave open a humanitarian corridor in order to assist displaced persons and populations in need of humanitarian aid.
They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on various trips.
Page 3, Section III. Accommodation
Article 6.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to gather their fighters at the sites provided by Congolese government technical services and/or their partners.
Page 3, Section III. Accommodation
Article 7.
During the accommodation period, the assailants based in GUTSI not having the means to support themselves, agree to accept food and non-food provisions from the Congolese government and/or its partners to ensure the survival of their fighters.
Page 4, Section IV. Community DDR Process:
Article 8.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to collaborate with the Congolese government on their disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion.
Page 4, Section IV. Community DDR Process:
Article 9.
The collaboration mentioned in Article 8 above shall depend on the outcome of talks which will be held in accordance with Article 2 of this Agreement. - Withdrawal of foreign forces
No specific mention.
- Corruption
No specific mention.
- Crime/organised crime
No specific mention.
- Drugs
No specific mention.
- Terrorism
No specific mention.
Transitional justice
- Transitional justice general
No specific mention.
- Amnesty/pardon
No specific mention.
- Courts
No specific mention.
- Mechanism
No specific mention.
- Prisoner release
No specific mention.
- Vetting
No specific mention.
- Victims
No specific mention.
- Missing persons
No specific mention.
- Reparations
No specific mention.
- Reconciliation
No specific mention.
Implementation
- UN signatory
No specific mention.
- Other international signatory
No specific mention.
- Referendum for agreement
No specific mention.
- International mission/force/similar
No specific mention.
- Enforcement mechanism
No specific mention.
- Related cases
No specific mention.
- Sourcehttps://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/S_2020_1283_E.pdf
UNILATERAL AGREEMENT OF GUTSI ASSAILANTS FOR PEACE IN ITURI PROVINCE
PREAMBLE
Whereas the Congolese head of state made multiple calls on various armed groups active in the eastern DRC to cease hostilities;
Whereas the Congolese head of State called for an end to violence in Ituri during his visit to the Djugu territory in July 2019;
Whereas the Congolese head of state wishes and is committed to restoring the authrotiy of the State in Ituri province;
Whereas the Congolese Head of State has charged certain Ituri community leaders sent from Kinshasa with a peacekeeping mission in Ituri province;
Whereas the delegation visited Djugu territory in September 2020 to meet assailants based in GUTSI and the population in order to pas on the Congolese Head of State’s message of peace;
Whereas it is necessary to restore peace and security to entities controlled by assailants based in Gutsi in Ituri Province;
Whereas the delegation sent by the Head of State met assailants based in Gutsi on 9 September 2020;
Being eager to participant and contribute to efforts to restore peace, security and retore the authority of the State in Ituri Province;
THE ASSAILANTS BASED IN GUTSI AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
Section I:
Unilateral truce
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to put an end to hostilities in Ituri Province.
The end of hostilities involves an end to attacks against FARDC, the PNC and the civilian population.
Article 2.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to enter into talks with the Congolese government regarding the demands made in the specifications given to the delegation sent from Kinshasa by the Congolese Head of State within 72 hours.
Section II.
On free movement of person, goods, and humanitarian organisations.
Article 3.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to allow free movement of person and their property in Ituri Province.
Article 4.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to allow the civilian population to go about their business peacefully and freely in Ituri Province.
Article 5.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to leave open a humanitarian corridor in order to assist displaced persons and populations in need of humanitarian aid.
They also agree to allow free passage of security services with supplies and on their various trips.
Section III.
Accommodation
Article 6.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to gather their fighters at the sites provided by Congolese government technical services and/or their partners.
Article 7.
During the accommodation period, the assailants based in GUTSI not having the means to support themselves, agree to accept food and non-food provisions from the Congolese government and/or its partners to ensure the survival of their fighters.
Section IV.
Community DDR Process
Article 8.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to collaborate with the Congolese government on their disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion.
Article 9
The collaboration mentioned in Article 8 above shall depend on the outcome of talks which will be held in accordance with Article 2 of this Agreement.
Section V. Final provisions
Article 10.
The assailants based in GUTSI invite the Congolese government to put in place a mechanism for overseeing performance of this truce agreement, which shall consist of a joint team, including negotiators sent by the Head of State, the Congolese government and civilian society.
Article 11.
The assailants based in GUTSI agree to perform the terms of this Agreement in good faith, and the same shall take effect on the date of its signature.
Done in GUTSI, on 9 September 2020
(signatories) *List below includes untranslated descriptions and only the signatories that are legible from the document*
Pour les assaillants bases a GUTSI:
Bhera Bura
Les Temoins:
1. Pour la delegation envoyee par le chef de l'Etat
2. Les chefs des groupements et des villages
Tikpa Budza Badhebli
Lomena Butchu
Bura Songlo
3. Les Responsables et Representants de l'Eglise locale
Representant de Catholique - illegible
Representant CECA 20 - Dzaringa Goba Germain
Representant FEPACO
Dhanga-Dhenbo Joel
4. Les Organisations de la Societe Civile et de la Jeunesse
Olivier Daimbu
Jeunesse GUTSI:
Jeunesse Bembu:
Anoibosi Kondungenda