Follow up on the implementation of the Previous Agreement in al-Waer, Homs

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Follow up on the implementation of the Previous Agreement in al-Waer, Homs
  • Date
    31 Aug 2016
  • Agreement status
    Unilateral document
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Government
  • Peace process
    Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
  • Parties
    Syrian government
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Ceasefire agreement in return for the withdrawal of opposition fighters from al-Waer, Damascus. Agreement calls for goods to enter into the neighbourhood; prisoner release; the entrance of police and Syrian regime security into the neighbourhood to re-open the office of population record and environment; allow civilians to return home; and the withdrawal of opposition fighters with their families and light weapons in four rounds.

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 rebel armed groups and the Syrian government. Yet, the struggle between those two parties lies at the centre of the Syrian conflict and has been a recurring point of contention ever since 2011. Moreover, it seems that the Syrian government agreed to manage its conflict with opposition groups through peace agreements, especially in main cities such as Homs. This is mainly the result of local and international pressure to limit the use of violent mean and protect civilians. Hence, one could argue that this agreement has been signed in the framework of a repeated process - although one cannot speak of a 'culture" of signing peace agreements.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, but it can be inferred from further research. The agreement is an unilateral declaration made by representatives of the Syrian government to regain control over al-Waer neighbourhood.
  • Name of Locale
    al-Waer neighbourhood
  • Nature Of Locale
    Smaller
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    34.743349, 36.674552
  • Participant type
    Central state actor
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it seems that it addresses the grievances that arose from clashes in the neighbourhood of al-Waer, which resulted in a number of detainees and disappeared, interrupted supplies and militarisation.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Follow up on the implementation of the Previous Agreement on the Neighbourhood of al-Waer

The final response to the proposal must be provided by both sides in the 24 hours up to 3pm on Wednesday on the date corresponding to 21/8/2016 to a complete ceasefire with continuation should the proposal is approved.

The proposal:

1-The road will be allowed to open in order for the materials (vegetables, fruit, water, electricity, bread) to enter through the Technical Department (Shu’un al-Faniyya) Checkpoint.

The entrance point to the al-Wa’er neighbourhood from the Muhadiseen Roundabout will be opened.

According to the previous agreement those who desire, will be granted amnesty.

2-The first group of fighters with at least 300 fighters who do not want amnesty and who do not want to stay will leave from the neighbourhood of al-Wa’er with their light weaponry and families.

3-The 140-200 detainees of the General Security Directorate will be released.

This was agreed upon previously.

4-The second group of at least 500 fighters who do not want to stay will be released with their light weaponry and families.

5-The status of half the detainees and missing persons will be clarified according to the previous agreement.

6-The third group at least 300 fighters who do not want to stay will be released with their light weaponry and families.

7-The of detainees mentioned in Point 5 will be released after meeting with the Director of the General Intelligence Department.

8-The fighters will withdraw from the seventh Jazeera and eighth Jazeera, and representatives from State Security and the police will enter in order to receive the two neighbourhoods in order to oversee the restoration of operations at the Justice Palace.

Later, they will restore operations to the offices of population records and the environment, located near the palace.

Civilians may return to their homes after all fighters have left.

9-The last group of fighters who do not want to stay will leave with their light weaponry and families.