Country/entity

Ethiopia
Somalia
Ogaden
Puntland

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Burtinle Peace Agreement

Date

6 May 2007

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.

Close

Somali Civil War (1991 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - comprehensive

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Somali Local Peace Processes

Parties

Bah Ararsame Community;
Omar Mohamud Community

Third parties

Garaad Jama Garaad Ali Garaad Jama;
Puntland Minister of Justice & Religious Affairs;
Islan Bashir, Islan Bashir, Islan Abdulle;
President of Puntlandl, Islan Farah;
Puntland Minister of Interior;
Elders of Puntland;
All officials of Nugaal, Sool and Mudug regions

Description

Local peace agreement following conflict over the digging for water in communal grazing area, which provides for the demolition of the wells, compensation payments for the destruction of the wells and compensation payments for the deceased. Agreement monitored by Puntland officials.

Agreement document

SO_070506_Burtinle Peace Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Formal structured process

Rationale

This agreement is part of a series of initiatives launched between 1997-2007 aimed at ending the Adadda conflict. It was mediated by traditional elders (Isimo) about two months after the conclusion of the 2007 Adadda agreement. The local peace process was supported by the Puntland administration and I/NGOs, among others. The agreement also references the Adadda agreement of May 15th 1997 upon which it builds.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

No

Link to national process: articulated rationale

Neither the agreement text nor limited background research suggests a link to a national-level peace process.

Name of Locale

Adadda area

Nature of Locale

Region

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

7.980179, 47.717521

Participant type

Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Mediator, facilitator or similar

Mediator or similar referred to

Mediator (references)

Mediators: Mediation committee/Isimo (traditional elders) from the Nugaal, Sool, and Mudug regions as well as the Dhulbahante sub-clan of Ahmed Garaad

Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List

Page 1, Subject: Committee verdict, Verdict is made on the basis of careful analysis and evaluation of the issues related to the pastoral areas and the disputes over water, such as digging Berkedo which creates environmental degradation.

Page 2, Subject: Committee verdict, 9. Regarding the deceased men:
...
12. Regarding the injuries, the Isimo ruled that each wounded member of both communities shall receive...

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.