Damascus Truce I between Bayt Sahem and Babila

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Damascus Truce I between Bayt Sahem and Babila
  • Date
    17 Feb 2014
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Government
  • Peace process
    Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
  • Parties
    Leaders of Bayt Sahem and Babila (Syrian Opposition);
    Syrian Government;
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Short ceasefire negotiated between the Syrian Government and the leaders of Bayt Sahem and Babila in the Damascus Countryside. Provides guarantees of Syrian Army to not enter the towns, re-supply water and electricity, open roads, and allow fighters that wish to surrender to do so, in addition to surrendering heavy weaponry.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Informal but persistent process
  • Rationale
    -> no support mechanism, link to the national peace process, culture of signing No formal mechanism supported the signing of the agreement, which was negotiated by public figures. It is part of a choreography of local agreements signed at that time in the countryside of Aleppo. Indeed, in addition to Babbila and Beit Sahem, similar deals have been struck for Qudsaya, Moadamiyet al-Sham, Barzeh, Yalda and Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    The agreement seems to be linked to the national peace process. The agreement involves national and local governance actor.
  • Name of Locale
    Bayt Sahem, Babila
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    33.471507, 36.339126
  • Participant type
    Central state actor
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    The agreement was negotiated by public figures (unnamed).
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists seven provisions to address local grievances.

    Page 1,
    1. Handover of heavy weaponry in the possession of fighters.
    2. The option for fighters to either stay within the two regions [of Bayt Sahem and
    Babila] or if they wish, to settle in the [Syrian] state and if part of the military, re-
    join it.
    3. Place a barrier at the entrance to the town of Babila consisting of fighters who will
    surrender themselves to the Syrian Army [and the town to] the command of the
    Syrian Army.
    4. The Syrian Army has not entered Bayt Sahem or Babila and militants maintain their
    positions within the two towns under the command of the Syrian Army.
    5. Re-supply the towns with water and electricity and re-construct public and private
    property.
    6. [Undertake] a mutual ceasefire.
    7. Open the roads leading to the two areas and introduce various types of assistance to
    civilians.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Truce Agreement in the towns of Bayt Sahem and Babila

15/01/2014

Handover of heavy weaponry in the possession of fighters.

The option for fighters to either stay within the two regions [of Bayt Sahem and Babila] or if they wish, to settle in the [Syrian] state and if part of the military, re-join it.

Place a barrier at the entrance to the town of Babila consisting of fighters who will surrender themselves to the Syrian Army [and the town to] the command of the Syrian Army.

The Syrian Army has not entered Bayt Sahem or Babila and militants maintain their positions within the two towns under the command of the Syrian Army.

Re-supply the towns with water and electricity and re-construct public and private property.

[Undertake] a mutual ceasefire.

Open the roads leading to the two areas and introduce various types of assistance to civilians.