Statement from The Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan calling for a Ceasefire

  • Country/entity
    Libya
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Statement from The Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan calling for a Ceasefire
  • Date
    7 Apr 2018
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Libyan local processes
  • Parties
    the prominent figures and sheikhs of Fezzan;
    Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Statement calling for a ceasefire and the opening of roads, sparing government buildings from combat damage; forming working committees; dissolve all armed formations; calling on the return of security institutions in the south; calling upon southern politicians working in state institutions outside of Fezzan to return to help solve the crisis.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Informal but persistent process
  • Rationale
    -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing The agreement is clearly embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements to bring an end to violence between the tribes inhabiting this locale (Fezzan region).
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    [Summary] Agreement is a statement from a self-appointed Supreme Council of Fezzan which acts as a local governing body. However, the agreement legitimises the role of the state and does not challenge it. Indeed, point five states: Page 1, 8. The attendees of this meeting call upon all of the elected officials from Fezzan, including the members of the two houses of parliament, state officials, and members of the Presidential Council, to suspend their memberships and return immediately to Fezzan until a suitable solution is found.
  • Name of Locale
    Fezzan
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    27.380364, 12.780010
  • Participant type
    Local state actor
    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, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
    And Peace and Blessings be on Prophet Muhammad, His Family, and His Companions

    Page 1, May Allah Preserve Libya
  • Grievance List
    Page 1, Due to the danger of the situation in the area of Fezzan, and the resumption of clashes between armed groups, which has caused worry and has negatively affected all aspects of the lives of the people in the different parts of Fezzan, the prominent figures and sheikhs of Fezzan, while holding a meeting called by the Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan, realize the imminent danger to the area and the negative effects of these conflicts that have benefited no one.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

The Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

And Peace and Blessings be on Prophet Muhammad, His Family, and His Companions

Due to the danger of the situation in the area of Fezzan, and the resumption of clashes between armed groups, which has caused worry and has negatively affected all aspects of the lives of the people in the different parts of Fezzan, the prominent figures and sheikhs of Fezzan, while holding a meeting called by the Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan, realize the imminent danger to the area and the negative effects of these conflicts that have benefited no one.

They hold this meeting while stressing the importance of the following:

1. An immediate ceasefire between the two sides

2. Public roads and facilities are owned by everyone, and benefitting from them is everyone’s right, while taking advantage of them during the ongoing conflicts and using them as a tool of war is an action that is criminalized and prohibited, and is considered, morally and legally, a war crime

So, the attendees today have agreed on:

1. The necessity of immediately opening all internal and external roads

2. Sparing government facilities any kind of conflict or fighting, and this does not involve the regulations and laws in effect for the armed forces

3. Forming working committees through contact with the military and all officials in the Libyan government

4. Working to dissolve all armed formations and rebuilding the military on a professional basis

5. Calling upon the people of the south who are in the military, police, and security agencies to immediately return to their military bases and positions with the armed forces, the police, and the security agencies

6. The Supreme Council shall be kept in a permanent session to monitor and support the work of the committees that were formed

7. The attendees confirm that the Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan is the legitimate representative of the social components in it, and all governments, states, and international organizations need to take this into account

8. The attendees of this meeting call upon all of the elected officials from Fezzan, including the members of the two houses of parliament, state officials, and members of the Presidential Council, to suspend their memberships and return immediately to Fezzan until a suitable solution is found

May Allah Preserve Libya

Sabha

(Al Jadid Manarat Al Hudhairi)

7/4/2018

Supreme Council of the Tribes and Cities of Fezzan