Deed of Agreement (between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Operations Room of Aleppo)

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Deed of Agreement (between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Operations Room of Aleppo)
  • Date
    19 Dec 2015
  • 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
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    People's Protection Units (YPG;
    Operations Room of Aleppo
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Short ceasefire agreement between the non-state actors, the People's Protection Units and the Operations Room of Aleppo, including access and mobility provisions and shared sovereignty of areas.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Informal but persistent process
  • Rationale
    -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There is no formally established mechanism to support the negotiation between Salafi armed groups. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Yet, it seems that both signing parties choose to solve the conflicts related to their armed struggle through agreements (see references). Although one cannot speak of a “culture” of singing peace agreements, the parties are involved (in a non-proactive and non-conscious way) in a persistent practice of signing local agreements.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. First, the agreement does not involve local governance actors; and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Second, all parties to the agreement reject the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power. The agreement is a "In response to the initiative of the Shura and Reconciliation Council in Aleppo between the two parties."
  • Name of Locale
    Afrin, Sheikh Maqsoud
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    36.508416, 36.866926
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, God is the Conciliator.
  • 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. A mutual ceasefire between the two parties.
    2. The crossing of civilians to and from Sheikh Maqsoud to Afrin through the safe areas and checkpoints under the control of the Fatah Operations Room of Aleppo in the context of prior coordination.
    3. Closure of the crossing in the Sheikh Maqsoud area linking to areas under the control of the [Syrian] regime. A joint committee between the parties [Fatah Operations Room of Aleppo and the People’s Protection Units] will monitor the closure.
    4. The opening of crossings leading to Afrin.
    5. Factions of the Operations Room that liberated Aleppo may access Eastern Sheikh Maqsoud in accordance with the Rebel Army1 and the People’s Protection Units.
    6. Possession of Sheikh Maqsoud is shared between the two sides.
    7. Form a military commission consisting of both parties to implement this agreement and investigate locations for approval or rejection.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Deed of Agreement (between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Operations Room of Aleppo)

To prevent bloodshed, and in response to the initiative of the Shura Council and for reconciliation in Aleppo between the parties, the following items were agreed:

1. A mutual ceasefire between the parties

2. The crossing of civilians from Sheikh Maqsoud to Afrin and vice versa [through] safe areas and barriers under control of the Fatah [Operations] Room of Aleppo, and in regards to fighters, it can be coordinated in advance.

3. Closure of the crossing located in the Sheikh Maqsoud area connecting the areas under control of the regime and the formation of a Coordination Committee between the parties to monitor the closure.

4. Opening of crossings leading to Afrin.

5. Access of factions of the Fatah Operations Room to eastern Sheikh Maqsoud in accordance with the Revolutionary Army and the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

6. The Sheikh Maqsoud checkpoint (on the railway) is shared between the two parties.

7. Forming a military committee from both sides to implement what is agreed above, and study the divided sites for approval or rejection.

The Agreement is valid on 8:00pm on Saturday 19/12/2015