Ceasefire between Salafists and Houthis in Dammaj

  • Country/entity
    Yemen
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Ceasefire between Salafists and Houthis in Dammaj
  • Date
    6 Jan 2014
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Yemeni Civil Wars (1994) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Yemen Inter-group Agreements
  • Parties
    Houthis (Ansar Allah);

    Salafists at Dar al-Hadith Centre in Dammaj.
  • Third parties
    Under the generous sponsorship of His Excellency Brother ‘Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi, President of the Republic, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Security
  • Description
    Agreement mediated by the Presidential Council between Ansar Allah and the Dar al-Hadith Institute in Dammaj, which escalated during Summer 2013-January 2014. Provisions include a ceasefire, opening roads, an end to looting of artifacts, release of prisoners, an end to highway robbery, an end to use of pulpit and media to sow sedition, and that the agreement will be implemented by the Presidential Committee, Parliamentary Committee and the Tribal Committee.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    This ceasefire agreement is part of a number of similar processes taking place around the same time in Yemen between Ansar Allah(Houthis) and local groups. The provisions explicitly refer to previous agreements signed by both parties. The agreement is also directly supported by the Presidential Council and similarly this support comes alongside references to similar type of commitments in the past.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    In this case the link to the national is inferred by the presence of President Hadi's Mediation Council, both in the sense that it mediates the agreement whilst also committing to ensure that the people of Dammaj are supported.
  • Name of Locale
    Sa'adah
  • Nature Of Locale
    City
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    16.951454, 43.747741
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

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

    Page 1, God is the Arbiter of Guidance and Success…
  • Grievance List
    [Summary] (1) A cessation of fighting between the parties, across the governorates of Saada and Amran, including areas within the neighbouring provinces of Hajjah, Al Jawf and Sana'a (2) securing and opening roads between all of these areas and ensuring entry of food into Sa'ada and Dammaj (3) halting all excavation or theft of artefacts from the areas mentioned (4) release of prisoners on both sides (5) Ending theft on the road and return of stolen property (6) The ending of all divisive media campaigns founded on or using religious elements
  • Cattle rustling/banditry
    Page 1, Fourth: Everything that was taken from cars on the road and all possessions will be handed over.
  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

In the name of Allah the Merciful

Minutes of Agreement

Under the generous sponsorship of His Excellency Brother ‘Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi, President of the Republic, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Security, the signatories below agree to the following:

First (A): There will be a ceasefire in all of Dammaj, Haradh, Khiwan and Danan

(B): All the roads from Sana’a to Sa’ada, from Haradh to Sa’ada, from Jawf to Sa’ada and from Arhab to Sa’ada will be opened.

The entry of all food and supplies products to Sa’ada and Dammaj will be allowed, except for combat support.

(C): Both sides will cease to dig for and remove artefacts in all of Dammaj, Haradh, Khiwan and Danan.

Only the people of the country remain, according to a clear implementation plan.

Second:

The committee headed by Sheikh Kahlan will implement peace between ‘Adhar [Atar] and al-‘Usaymat.

Third:

All prisoners and captives from both sides will be released.

Fourth:

Everything that was taken from cars on the road and all possessions will be handed over.

Fifth:

All media campaigns and sectarian invitations by any means - either through mosques, the media, forums or any other means – will stop from both sides.

Sixth:

A team will be formed for the Presidential Committee, the Parliamentary Committee and the Tribal Committee to work on what has been mentioned.

Seventh:

This agreement is a commitment to the previous agreements signed by both parties, whether from the Presidential Committee, the Parliamentary Committee or the Tribal Committee.

Eighth:

All the minutes signed by the committees and the team that joined the committees will be elevated to His Excellency the President of the Republic for verification and to discipline the offenders from any side.

God is the Arbiter of Guidance and Success...