Agreement between the Tribes of ʿUbaydah and Ansar Allah

  • Country/entity
    Yemen
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Agreement between the Tribes of ʿUbaydah and Ansar Allah
  • Date
    4 Dec 2014
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Yemeni Civil Wars (1994) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Yemen Inter-group Agreements
  • Parties
    Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as the first party and the 'Ubaydah Tribes and those under their auspices in Ma’rib governorate from the valley to the city as the second party
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Agreement between the Ubaydah tribes in the wadi and medina districts of Ma'rib, central Yemen and Ansar Allah (the Houthis) three months after the occupation of Sana'a by the Houthis. Agreement guarantees access and secures infrastructure facilities by the local tribes.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    The practice of a body of societal figureheads and tribal seniors representing the wider tribe and the people in the region they protect is a clear formally established local practice which also exists in this arrangement. The support from this body for the agreement seems clear, as they pledge to 'exert' all possible efforts in representing the tribal party to the agreement. This seems particularly decisive given the context of the original positions of the Abidah and Murad tribes. As two of the most powerful of the Ma'rib tribes, they originally formed an unlikely alliance putting aside historical differences to mount a resistance against Ansar Allah at the beginning of the conflict. There is a clear non-state element to this process with Ma'rib tribes being clear in their commitments to seek self governance, pushing for self representation in negotiations, with less concern around the control or authority of Hadi's central government. There is also a level of locally formalised practice in the agreement provisions in the form of mutual understanding around assurances that roads will be safely accessible, along with public infrastructure and that certain areas will be recognised as safe spaces immune from violent acts.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    T
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    The wider peace process is not specifically mentioned in the text. There is also no further research which indicates a clear structural link to the national peace process.
  • Name of Locale
    Wadi and Medina districts of Ma'rib
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    15.473768, 45.321942
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    No clear reference to a mediator or actor playing a supporting role of any kind. The representatives of the tribal party will not be considered as such, in view of the fact that as part of the broader tribal/regional network, their interests are involved and they are still clearly part of one side in the agreement.
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: In the name of him, the gracious, the merciful Praise be upon him, and prayer, and peace be upon his Prophet, and the God of the good and virtuous
  • Grievance List
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: as well as to what this governorate has suffered in the past in regards to a denial of development, a lack of security and stability

    [Summary] (1) A general effort by both parties to co-exist peacefully in conditions of cooperation, mutual respect, good relations and with recognition of brotherhood; (2) The securing of roads by the second party (Abidah tribes) for the first party (Ansar Allah/Houthis) and the second party will lead the enforcement of this, with all groups condemning any other group who launches an attack on the road; (3) The second party will ensure the security of public infrastructures and supplies, including: oil, gas, electricity and any other production; (4) The second party is expected to secure the roads from active banditry, preventing attacks or the creation of checkpoints. This will be part of ensuring that Muslims are not robbed, that travellers are not intimidated and public and private properties are safe from theft; (5) The second party must end affiliation with al-Qaeda and actively make efforts to cease assisting or supporting the group in any way; (6) use of Shari'ah to encourage the two parties to exist side by side with tolerance, freedom of expression and in peace; (7) all parties agree that areas and villages that have pledged involvement in this agreement must be viewed as areas free of fighting and the first party will not attack these areas, unless agreed upon with the other party; (8) If any of the terms set out are broken by any tribe or other faction, all groups involved in the agreement will be held responsible; (9) Every party involved recognises the right to freedom of expression and opinion by their members and this will not have any adverse impact on the party; (10) Both parties recognise that the agreement does not absolve provincial security and military officials from their responsibility of securing the province; (11) The first party will support the second party in securing outstanding monies on the basis of land rights and laws; (12) The first party will ensure the preservation of private property belonging to anyone who signs the agreement; (13) The first party more generally commits to begin renewed relations with any group that signs the agreement.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry
    Page 2, Fourth: The second party is committed to secure the road and prevent any attacks or establish checkpoints or sectors in their country to rob Muslims, loot public and private property or intimidate travellers.
  • Social cover
    Page 2, Fifth: Fifth: The second party is committed not to accept al-Qaeda, include them, or provide them with assistance or support because they are a great danger to people and the country.

Agreement between the Tribes of ʿAbidah and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

4 December 2014

In the name of him, the gracious, the merciful

Praise be upon him, and prayer, and peace be upon his Prophet, and the God of the good and virtuous

Given the great challenges that are currently going on in our homeland, which requires concerted efforts and serious cooperation by everyone for the good of the nation and the people.

Furthermore, to establish the principles of brotherhood, peace1 and agreement between all and which he imposes upon us religion and knowledge, and after the success of the popular revolution and the desire of everyone to turn a new page among the spectrum of Yemeni society to bestow on it peace, harmony, respect and peaceful coexistence between all groups without any discrimination and the presentation of the agreement between Ansar as the first party and the ʿAbidah Tribes and those under their auspices in Ma’rib governorate from the valley to the city as the second party representing their people are societal notables at the head of the tribes and who by their hands will exert every conceivably effort.

And so on a number of important points established in the next stage, and so free from problems and difficulties between the children of the unified nation for all citizens to enjoy in safety, peace and stability and what represents the Ma’rib governorate in its geographical, economic, societal, and historical distinctness in addition to what this governorate has suffered in past eras in regards to a denial of development, a lack of security and stability, have agreed to the following:-

First:

Co-existence between the first and second parties in an atmosphere of brotherhood, peace, harmony and relations of cooperation, good faith, and respect for each other.

Second:

The second side commits to secure the roads for the first party as they would for the sons of all Yemeni people from any assault or exposure by either of the two sides or another.

In case of any attack on the first party where the second party is silent, they will leave it for the second side to take action and provide protection and security from any aggression.

Whoever commits an aggression will be charged2 by everyone.

Third:

The second side commits to make sincere and serious efforts in securing facilities and public goods such as oil, gas, electricity and service facilities or other production.

In the case of non- compliance with this requirement, the first party is entitled to secure them and open the roads.

Fourth:

The second party is committed to secure the road and prevent any attacks or establish checkpoints or sectors in their country to rob Muslims, loot public and private property or intimidate travellers.

Fifth:

The second party is committed not to accept al-Qaeda, include them, or provide them with assistance or support because they are a great danger to people and the country.

Sixth:

Both sides commit to each other harmony and cohesion and to live in peace and also with freedom of thought and belief in light of Shari’ah without hostility of coercion from any party towards the other, and all are committed to refrain from incitement and spreading rumours that harm the unity of social fabric.

Seventh:

All agree that the areas and villages committed to this agreement are considered peaceful areas and the first party will not attack them unless except when it is clear what has been agreed upon.3

Eighth:

Everyone agrees that in the case any of the above items are breached by any tribe or house then everyone will be responsible.

Ninth:

All parties commit to the freedom to express his opinion peacefully and this is generally accepted without detriment to the party.

Tenth:

The parties agree that the articles of this agreement will not repeal or absolve the security and military authorities from doing their job and their role in maintaining security and stability in the province.

Eleventh:

The first party commits to stand by the second party in their lawful and fair outstanding monies and in their monies from land rights, which is produced from wealth under the rules of law.

Twelfth:

The first party is committed to the preservation of private property to all those that sign the document.

Thirteenth:

In the case of signing and committing to the articles of this agreement, the first party commits to turn a fresh page in regards to any individual or group and begin good relations between them and any other groups and signatories of this document (as an honoured document) to thereby ease the minds and help [create] a peaceful, gracious, strong and a brotherly co-existence between all parties and signatories4.

And upon this it is signed

[no signatures on website version]