Hurritan and Malah Ceasefire

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Hurritan and Malah Ceasefire
  • Date
    16 Feb 2014
  • 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
    Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, ‘Abd al-Karim al-Awkarani [Illegible]
    Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, Abu ‘Amir al-Shami [Illegible]
    Liva’ Shuhada Badr, ‘Abd al-Khalaq Abu Ahmad [Illegible]
  • Third parties
    The agreement was made in the presence of Sheikh Abu ‘Amir, representative of Harakat Ahrar al- Sham al-Islamiyya and in the presence of two representatives of the two sides.
  • Description
    Eight point ceasefire calling for an end to hostilities, prisoner release, Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar to remain in their current location; to not set up in areas occupied by families; division of power over the checkpoints; that weapons cases before the respective date of signature will not be dropped; that Shuhada Badr will not set up in the Malah area; that the sides will support each other in the fight against the Syrian regime.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Informal but persistent process
  • Rationale
    -> Local issues only; external support mechanism; culture of signing A formally-established mechanism supported the negotiation as Ahrar al-Sham brokered the agreement. 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. It is unclear whether the signing parties have previously resorted to agreements as a means to solve recurrent issues related to their armed struggle.
  • 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 mentions that "The two sides vow to give all forms of support to each other in the battle against the regime of al-Assad, according to their capacity".
  • Name of Locale
    Hurritan [Hraytan], Malah [al-Malah]
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    36.289007, 37.084567
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    Abu ‘Amir al-Shami
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, In the Name of Allah the Merciful

    Page 1, First: The two sides have agreed to a full suspension of hostilities. [They have also agreed] to refer all outstanding issues between them, as well as emerging issues, to the rightful law of Allah by the arbitration of the Sharia [Shari’ah] Board in Aleppo.

    Page 1, Praised be Allah, Lord of the Two Worlds
  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists eight provisions to address local grievances. It seems that the clashes between local armed groups for the control of Hurritan and Malah lie at the centre of the dispute.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Unnamed Agreement, (Hurritan and Malah Ceasefire), 16 February 2014

In the Name of Allah the Merciful

This is what was agreed between Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar - represented by Brother ‘Abd al- Karim al-Awkarani – and Liva’ Shuhada’ Badr [The Badr Martyrs Brigade] – represented by ‘Abd al- Khalaq Abu Ahmad – regarding the problems in the areas of Hurritan and Malah and their surroundings.

First:

The two sides have agreed to a full suspension of hostilities. [

They have also agreed] to refer all outstanding issues between them, as well as emerging issues, to the rightful law of Allah by the arbitration of the Sharia [Shari’ah] Board in Aleppo.

Second:

Both sides will immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners.

Third:

The brothers in Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar will remain in their headquarters in the area

excepting the houses owned by the Shuhada’ Badr that were given to them.

Fourth:

The two sides have agreed to not form a headquarters among the residing families of the other side.

Fifth:

The checkpoints in the area belong to the Shariah Board, Ahrar al-Sham and Jubhat al-Nusra.

It is illegal for any muahjir or masked person to be stationed at the checkpoint.

Sixth:

The two sides have agreed that no incidents [cases] linked to weapons before the date of the agreement should be lifted.

Seventh:

Liva’ Shuhada Badr vows to not form military headquarters in Malah or its surroundings.

Eighth:

The two sides vow to give all forms of support to each other in the battle against the

regime of al-Assad, according to their capacity.

The agreement was made in the presence of Sheikh Abu ‘Amir, representative of Harakat Ahrar al- Sham al-Islamiyya and in the presence of two representatives of the two sides.

Monday:

16/2/2014 AD 16/4/1435 Hijri

Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar ‘Abd al-Karim al-Awkarani

[Illegible]

Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya

Abu ‘Amir al-Shami [Illegible]

Liva’ Shuhada Badr

Praised be Allah, Lord of the Two Worlds

‘Abd al-Khalaq Abu Ahmad [Illegible]