• Country/entity

  Yemen
  

• Region

  Middle East and North Africa
  

• Agreement name

  Agreement between Ansar Allah and Salafists from the al-Noor Centre

• Date

  26 Jun 2014

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/local conflict ( Yemeni Civil Wars (1994) (2011 - ) )

• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process

• Conflict nature

  Inter-group

• Peace process

  Yemen Inter-group Agreements

• Parties

  The first side: Mr Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, signed by his representative, Yusuf Abdallah for Ansar Allah [The Houthis]
  The second side: Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Imam [for the Salafists of the Noor Center]

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  Short agreement between the Houthis (Ansar Allah) and the Salafists at the Noor Centre following the defeat and expulsion of the Salafists at Dar al-Hadith Centre in Dammaj, Sa'dah. Agreement postulates that all involved are Muslims, calls for reconciliation and open lines of communication between the groups to coordinate in the face of strife, guarantees cultural freedom and freedom of thought, and calls for an end to hostile rhetoric by both parties.

• Agreement document

  YE_140626_Agreement between Salafists and Ansar Allah_EN.pdf | Download PDF

• Agreement document (original language)

  YE_140626_Agreement between Salafists and Ansar Allah_AR.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Informal but persistent process
  

• Rationale

  The common local practice of appealing to mutually held religious values and identities among fighting sides has a strong presence in this agreement. Additionally, the clear culture around representatives being present in the process, including sheikhs is also a prominent feature in the agreement text. The agreement also carries many of the same values that other local agreements at this time involve. This primarily involves freedom of expression, countering aggressive language or speech aimed at other groups, and encouraging cultural freedoms and cooperation among traditionally opposing groups for the benefit of the area/region.

• 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

  Dammaj, Sa'dah governorate

• Nature Of Locale

  Region

• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  16.896582, 43.800934

• Participant type

  Local armed group
  

• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  Mediator or similar referred to

  Mediator (references)

  No reference in the text to a mediator or other type of convening/supporting body, with only reference to the representatives of the two sides signing.

  Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

Local issues

Agreement between Ansar Allah and the Salafist al-Noor Centre

Document of Co-existence and Brotherhood

26 June 2014

You shall hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you, and do not be divided [Surah ‘Ali ‘Imran 3:103]

Praise be to Allah, who says ‘believers are brothers’, believe in Allah, pray, and blessing upon our master, Muhammad, and on the ones who are pure, and Allah is pleased with his good companions of migrants, supporters and followers, and those that follow them charitably.

We are all Muslims with one Lord, one book, one Prophet, and one Enemy.

If we differ on the sub- details of Islam, it dispossesses us of our blood, our symptoms and our finances over each other as Muslims.

Based on this, Ansar Allah represented by Mr Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi and the Salafists from the al-Noor Centre and their affiliated centres represented by Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdallah al-Imam, agree on the following;

Peaceful co-existence between the two sides [who will not be] brought to quarrel or sedition, regardless of circumstances.

Freedom of thought and culture are guaranteed to all.

Stop inflammatory and hostile rhetoric from both sides in its various forms and in all areas, and work to cultivate the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation.

Continue the process of direct communication between the two sides to face any emergency, event, problem, the behaviour of individuals, or any attempt at exacerbating the situation between the two sides, and to determine their position.

This is what was agreed upon, and Allah is behind its intention.

Done at the 28 Sha’ban 1435 AH, 26-6-2014

The first side:

Mr Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, signed by his representative, Yusuf Abdallah.

The second side:

Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Imam