Wadi Barada Agreement
Country/entity
SyriaRegion
Middle East and North AfricaAgreement name
Wadi Barada AgreementDate
6 Jan 2017Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreedInterim arrangement
YesAgreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict ()Stage
Ceasefire/relatedConflict nature
GovernmentPeace process
Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)Parties
Residents of Wadi Barada.
Representative of the Syrian GovernmentThird parties
-Description
Short 'surrender' type agreement between the residents of Wadi Barada and the Syrian Government of Bashir al-Asad. Agreement provides for: (1) the avoidance of conscription of military aged males for a 6-month period; (2) handover of medium and heavy weapons; (3) the evacuation of fighters not from Wadi Barada; (4) that the Syrian army will not enter homes but will set up checkpoints; (5) a return of locals to homes and jobs. Agreement does not contain an explicit cessation of hostilities clause, but this is implicated from the other areas of agreement.
Agreement document
Agreement document (original language)
Local agreement properties
Process type
Informal but persistent processRationale
-> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There was no formally-established mechanism to support the negotiation. Reports point to the fact that the Syrian government and opposition delegations agreed on talks to achieve a ceasefire at Wadi Barada ever since the offensive was launched on 23 December 2016. This agreement is thus part of a series of peace-making efforts that resulted in the signing of several agreements. The fighting revolved around the water supply to Damascus, the capital and headquarters of the Syrian regime.Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
YesLink to national process: articulated rationale
The agreement involves a central governance actor, a representative of the Syrian government. The agreement also mentions that the fighters can leave to Idlib where further fighting between the opposing parties then took place.Name of Locale
Wadi BaradaNature Of Locale
RegionGPS Lat/Long (DD)
33.615001, 36.181144Participant type
Central state actor
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisationsMediator, facilitator or similar
No mention of mediator or similar
Local issues
- Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
No specific mention.
- Grievance ListAlthough the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists ten provisions to address local grievances.
Page 1,
1. For those men who avoided army conscription, there will be a 6-month grace period. 2. All medium, heavy and light weapons shall be handed over.
3. The agreement will appear at all security agencies to clarify status.
4. No fighters originally from outside of Wadi Barada may remain.
5. Fighters from outside Wadi Barada can keep their light weapons and move to Idlib. 6. Local fighters can also choose to move to Idlib.
7. The Syrian Army will not enter private homes.
8. The Syrian Army will enter Wadi Barada and set up checkpoints.
9. Those from Wadi Barada may return to their village.
10. Those with jobs may return to their jobs as employees. - Cattle rustling/banditry
No specific mention.
- Social cover
No specific mention.
Wadi Barada Agreement
6 January 2016
1. For those men who avoided army conscription, there will be a 6-month grace period.
2. All medium, heavy and light weapons shall be handed over.
3. The agreement will appear at all security agencies to clarify status.
4. No fighters originally from outside of Wadi Barada may remain.
5. Fighters from outside Wadi Barada can keep their light weapons and move to Idlib.
6. Local fighters can also choose to move to Idlib.
7. The Syrian Army will not enter private homes.
8. The Syrian Army will enter Wadi Barada and set up checkpoints.
9. Those from Wadi Barada may return to their village.
10. Those with jobs may return to their jobs as employees.
Signed:
Residents of Wadi Barada.
Representative of the Syrian Government