• Country/entity

  Syria
  

• Region

  Middle East and North Africa
  

• Agreement name

  East Ghouta Agreement between Jaysh al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman Brigade

• Date

  24 May 2016

• 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

  1-The Leader of Jaysh al-Islam [The Army of Islam]: ‘Asam Buydani
, Signed;
  2-The Leader of Faylaq al-Rahman [The al-Rahman Legion]: ‘Abdi al-Naser Shamir, Signed.

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  Agreement providing for a ceasefire between Jaysh al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman, opening roads, ending hostilities, and freeing prisoners, as well as returning institutions to their owners and ending media incitement. The Agreement further agrees that East Ghouta is an indivisible unit, a court will agree on the verdicts for assassination, shared guard of the fronts, and the creation of a committee to for communicating between the two parties.

• Agreement document

  SY_160524_East Ghouta Agreement between Jaysh al-Islam and Failaq al-Rhaman_EN.pdf | Download PDF

• Agreement document (original language)

  SY_160524_East Ghouta Agreement between Jaysh al-Islam and Failaq al-Rhaman_AR.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Informal but persistent process
  

• Rationale

  -> Local issues only; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There is no formally established mechanism to support the negotiation between Salafi and nationalist armed groups. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, all signing group 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 daily pragmatic issues related to their armed struggle through agreements. 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.

• Name of Locale

  East Ghouta

• Nature Of Locale

  Region

• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  33.551283, 36.397705

• Participant type

  Local armed group
  

• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

In the name of Allah the Merciful Declaration of Principles

Between:

1-The Leader of Jaysh al-Islam [The Army of Islam]:

‘Asam Buydani

2-The Leader of Faylaq al-Rahman [The al-Rahman Legion]:

‘Abdi al-Naser Shamir

The first principle:

There will be a ceasefire and a prohibition of armed provocations between the brothers.

The detainees will also be set free and the public roads will be opened to civilians.

The institutions will return to their owners and the official media incitement will stop.

The implementation of the content of this principle will start upon signing.

The second principle:

East Ghouta is one geographic and demographic unit indivisible in ruling areas of influence.

The third principle:

The verdicts in cases of assassinations and bloodshed [brought] to court will be agreed upon, and it will be committed to implement its ruling.

The fourth principle:

There will be a commitment to a complete coordination and shared cooperation to guard the fronts.

The fifth principle:

All the debated points (fronts, weapons, headquarters, money and properties) will be put on a worksheet and the priorities will be agreed on in order to settle a time schedule.

The sixth principle:

The approved Events Committee of the city is the committee responsible for communication and coordination between Faylaq al-Rahman and Jaysh al-Islam.

It is also authorised to talk to the media on the progress of the negotiations.

These are the members of the Committee:

- President of the Provincial Council, Professor Ikram Ta’ama

- Director of the Health Division in East Ghouta, Sakhir al-Dimashqi

- President of the Financial Office, Professor Mustafi Qathoo’

- Director of Education in Damascus Countryside, Professor ‘Adnan al-Sayak

- President of the General Authority in East Ghouta, Professor Mohammad Sliman al-Dahla

- Doctor Abu ‘Adnan (Independent)

- This agreement has been signed in three copies, one copy for each faction as well as the Committee retains a copy.

- The annex of these principles is considered from these.

These principles were signed after the eshaa prayer [The dinner prayer] on Tuesday 17 Shaaban 1437, corresponding to 24/5/2016 in East Ghouta.

(May Allah save them and release them) Thank Allah that His grace is righteous

The Leader of Jaysh al-Islam

Sheikh Abu Hamam ‘Asam Buydhani [Illegible]

The Leader of Faylaq al-Rahman Captain ‘Abdul al-Nasr al-Shamir [Illegible]