Country/entity

Libya

Region

Middle East and North Africa

Agreement name

Reconciliation Agreement between Tebu and Awlad Sulaymen

Date

29 Mar 2017

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

Yes

Agreement/conflict level

Intrastate/local conflict

Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )

Agreements relate to two distinct conflict dyads.
Libya-Chad. Since the 1970s, Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had a tense relationship with its neighbour Chad, predominantly focused on the resource-rich Aouzou Strip in northern Chad. Libyan claims of the Aouzou Strip were held in an un-ratified treaty between France and Italy in 1935, similarly Chadian claims of the Strip were argued with support of a 1955 treaty between Libya and France. In 1973, Libya effectively annexed the Strip to gain access to natural resources. This spurred cross-border clashes between 1979 until 1987 until escalated to a brief war known as the Toyota War, wherein Chadian government troops succeeded in repelling Libyan forces. A brief and repeatedly violated ceasefire was held from 1987-88, followed by a series of unsuccessful negotiations, until an International Court of Justice ruling in 1994, which granted sovereignty of the Strip to Chad.

Libya post-Gaddafi. Gaddafi’s downfall following the Libyan Civil War in 2011-2012, led to several factions fighting for the country’s leadership. Since 2013, the country effectively split into three entities, with the National Army controlling the east including the city of Benghazi, and the New General National Congress and their militias such as the Golden Dawn controlling the northwest including the capital of Tripoli. Significant portions of the country in the south-west are currently held by Tuareg forces. The civil war and chaos continued into 2014 as the General National Congress refused to disband after the expiry of its mandate, resulting in eruption of mass protests. The UN efforts continue to broker peace between the Libyan Army and the Libya Dawn factions, and a partial ceasefire was declared in January 2015. A new interim-government (Tunisia-based) called ‘Government of National Accord’ is formed with the backing of UN despite the refusal of the other forces to recognise its authority and arrived to Tripoli with the UN in 2016. A state of emergency was declared by the UN backed government amid clashed between rival militia in Tripoli’s southern suburbs. Since April 2019 there has been sustained fighting between the Libyan National Army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli as the Libyan National Army aims to seize Tripoli.

Close

Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Libyan local processes

Parties

Al-Zaylawi Mina Salih Qilma
Sheikh of the Tebu Tribe

Al-Sanusi Mas’ud Amr

President of the Shurah Council of the Awlad Sulayman Tribe

M. Abd al-Salaam S’ad Kaajmaan

Deputy of the Presidential Council of the GNA

Mr. Marco Minetti

Foreign Minister of the Italian Republic

Third parties

-

Description

Reconciliation agreement underwritten by Italy providing for reparations, the departure of armed groups, the right to work in public services, the opening of Sabha Airport, and the lifting of social protection of wanted persons.

Agreement document

LY_170329_Reconciliation Agreement between Tebu and Awlad Sulayman_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Agreement document (original language)

LY_170329_Reconciliation Agreement between Tebu and Awlad Sulayman_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Formal structured process

Rationale

-> Link to national level; external support mechanism; culture of signing The agreement was clearly supported by an international mechanism; it was facilitated by the Italian Republic and sponsored by the Libyan state. Moreover, it is clearly embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements in this locale (Sabha) between tribes.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

Yes

Link to national process: articulated rationale

The agreement is clearly linked to the national process. It was sponsored by the Libyan state represented by the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA. The agreement is based on "the strengthening of identity and the body of the nation, the sanctification of Libyan blood, protecting the unity of Libyan soil".

Name of Locale

Sabha

Nature of Locale

Region

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

27.040306, 14.425710

Participant type

Central state actor
Local state actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Mediator, facilitator or similar

Mediator or similar referred to

Mediator (references)

Italian Republic

Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

Central state actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

Page 1, In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Page 1, Allah says: “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah - then We are going to give him a great reward.” [Shurat al-Nisa 114]

Page 1, And Allah says: “The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” [Surat al-Hujurat 49]

Page 1, Reconciliation is the joint pursuit towards conflict resolution, to redress the damage and rectify the consequences of conflicts in the past [and their] injustices and mistakes, based on the principles of our religion Islam, which forbids infighting among Muslims and urges compassion, cooperation and solidarity as well as calling for reconciliation and stemming the flow of Muslim blood.

Page 1, And Allah is the guardian of harmony

Grievance List

Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it seems that the confrontation between the Tebu and Awlad Sulayman in the area of Sabha lies at the centre of the dispute.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

Page 1, 9. Lifting the social protection of criminals from both sides. Anyone who breaks the peace is responsible for their actions and their family must hand them over to justice.