Country/entity

Ethiopia
Somalia
Ogaden
Puntland

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Decisions by the Elders Chairing the Burtinle Conference

Date

7 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

Islan Iise
Islan Mohamed
Islan Bashir
Islan Abdulle
Garad Abdullahi
Garad Sofe
Ugas Abdullahi Iise
Garad Abshir Salah
Garad Mahamoud Osman Mashqare
Garad Saleban Burale
Ugas Farah Mahamoud Ali

Bah Ararsame Committee
1. Aw-Daahir Haji Hassan Abdille
2. Abdirahman Mohamed Ali
3. Mohamud Abdi Haabsade
4. Yusuf Haji Mohamud Ali
5. Abdirahman Saleeban Mursal
6. Abdullahi Hassan Ali
7. Jama Yacqub Osman
8. Mohamud Guure Ali
9. Haji Mahad Haji Yusuf aw-Abdi
10. Ali Abdi Galayr
11. Abdi Aden Ali
12. Ali Mohamed Kaarshe
13. Ahmed Mohamed [Dheganalow]
14. Ibrahim Bulhan Mohamed
15. Mohamed Abdulqadir Ileeye
16. Mohamed Ahmed Dheere
17. Mohamud Ahmed Ibyan

Omar Mohamud Committee
1. Abdullahi Hasan Baalee
2. Nuur Mohamed Ahmed ‘Sandheere’ 3. Abdirashid Ahmed Jama
4. Abdullahi Kooreeye Elmi
5. Abdi Budeeye Hassan
6. Jama Omar Dhagad
7. Mohamed Hassan Samatar
8. Abdul Dalmar Ali
9. Jama Bihi Nuur
10. Isse Haji Jama
11. Mohamud Abdi Daahir
12. Muuse Haaji Jama
13. Mohamud Khalif Hersi
14. Osman Ahmed Omar
15. Mohamud Isse Ahmed
16. Bashir Mohamud Dalmar
17. Ahmed Osman Warsame

Third parties

The mediation committee
1. Dahir Mohamed Farah-Sanwaylod (chairman)
2. Aqil Mohamoud Haji Omar (vice- chairman)
3. Nabadon Kaliif Aw Ali
4. Nabadon Abdulahi Jama Areef
5. Nabadon Abdiasiis Jama Warsame
6. Abas Ali Dhere
7. Mohomed Abshir Nur
8. Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh
9. Amiir Jama Mohamed Mire
10. Yusuf Jama Alas
11. Dalmar Haji Mohamoud
12. Haji Ahmed Adan Haad
13. Bihi Hirsi Farah
14. Ibrahim Abade Burale
15. Awil Ismail
16. Ahmed Barre Siad Muse (secretary)


The witnessing Elders
1. Ugaas Hassan Ugaas Yaasiin
2. Ugaas Abdullaahi Ugaas Soofe
3. Garaad Abdullahi Ali Ciid
4. Garaad Abdisalam Hassan
5. Suldan Said Mohamed Garaase
6. Suldan Abdisalan Suldan Mohamed 7. Suldan Bashir Muuse Keente
8. Ugaas Faradh Haji Mohamud
9. Ugaas Omar Geelle Mohamed
10. Suldan Ali Ismail

Page 2,

Representatives of the authorities
1. Abdirizaq Yasin Abdille ‘Geessod’ Puntland Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs
2. Abdirahman Jama Boorre [Mayor of Laas ‘Aanood ]
3. Hussein Guuled Hanaf [Mayor of Burtinle]
4. Bedel Khalaf Jaama [representative of Federal Government of Ethiopia, Bookh District]

Description

Local agreement between the Ba Ahararsame and Omar Mohamoud in regards to water resources that provides for land to be shared, relocation of forces, communication of the terms of the agreement by Elders to their respective communities and for all water catchments and reservoirs to be demolished.

Agreement document

SO_070507_Decisions by the Elders Chairing the Burtinle Conference.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 is a response by the Burtinle conference chairs to the conclusion of the Burtinle Peace Agreement, 06/05/2007, that 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.

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)

7.923050, 47.626540

Participant type

Local state actor
International or transnational actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Regional state actor

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

No specific mention.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.