Country/entity

Libya

Region

Middle East and North Africa

Agreement name

Pledge and Reconciliation Charter Between the Cities of Misrata and Zintan

Date

26 Apr 2018

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

Yes

Agreement/conflict level

Intrastate/local conflict

Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )

Agreements relate to two distinct conflict dyads.
Libya-Chad. Since the 1970s, Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had a tense relationship with its neighbour Chad, predominantly focused on the resource-rich Aouzou Strip in northern Chad. Libyan claims of the Aouzou Strip were held in an un-ratified treaty between France and Italy in 1935, similarly Chadian claims of the Strip were argued with support of a 1955 treaty between Libya and France. In 1973, Libya effectively annexed the Strip to gain access to natural resources. This spurred cross-border clashes between 1979 until 1987 until escalated to a brief war known as the Toyota War, wherein Chadian government troops succeeded in repelling Libyan forces. A brief and repeatedly violated ceasefire was held from 1987-88, followed by a series of unsuccessful negotiations, until an International Court of Justice ruling in 1994, which granted sovereignty of the Strip to Chad.

Libya post-Gaddafi. Gaddafi’s downfall following the Libyan Civil War in 2011-2012, led to several factions fighting for the country’s leadership. Since 2013, the country effectively split into three entities, with the National Army controlling the east including the city of Benghazi, and the New General National Congress and their militias such as the Golden Dawn controlling the northwest including the capital of Tripoli. Significant portions of the country in the south-west are currently held by Tuareg forces. The civil war and chaos continued into 2014 as the General National Congress refused to disband after the expiry of its mandate, resulting in eruption of mass protests. The UN efforts continue to broker peace between the Libyan Army and the Libya Dawn factions, and a partial ceasefire was declared in January 2015. A new interim-government (Tunisia-based) called ‘Government of National Accord’ is formed with the backing of UN despite the refusal of the other forces to recognise its authority and arrived to Tripoli with the UN in 2016. A state of emergency was declared by the UN backed government amid clashed between rival militia in Tripoli’s southern suburbs. Since April 2019 there has been sustained fighting between the Libyan National Army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli as the Libyan National Army aims to seize Tripoli.

Close

Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Libyan local processes

Parties

Mustafa Muhammad Karwad, Misrata [signed]
Salem Al Mabrook Salamah, Zintan [signed]
Ibrahim Omar Bin Rajab, Misrata [signed]
Mustafa Al Barouni, Zintan [signed]
Mukhtar Ahmad Badi, Misrata [signed]
Omar Ghaith Qarambal, Zintan [signed]
Ahmad Muhammad Al Dharat, Misrata [signed]
Muftah Mansour Ali, Zintan [signed]
Muhammad Ibrahim Al Rajoubi, Misrata [signed]
Abdullah Ahmad, Zintan [signed]
Ramadan Muhammad Maetiq, Misrata [signed]
Al Bashir Masoud Al Thuailib, Zintan [signed]
Muhammad Ibrahim Al Nuairi, Misrata [signed]
Khalifah A Shuaib, Zintan [signed]
Ali Nuradin Kambah, Misrata [signed]
Shaaban Al Amyani Al Marhalni, Zintan [not signed]
Jibril Abdulkareem Al Raidh, Misrata [signed]
Al Mahdi Masoud Abdullah, Zintan [signed]
Miftah Muhammad Al Darwish, Misrata [signed]
Abdullah Saleh Al Bulai’izi, Zintan [signed]
Mustafa Muhammad Warith, Misrata [signed]
Mustafa Ahmad Al Turki, Zintan [signed]
Saleh Ali Ismio, Misrata [signed]
Omar Muhammad Mulaiqitah, Zintan, [not signed]
Faraj Ali Abu Sha’alah, Misrata, [signed]
Muhammad Ali Al Nimr, Zintan [not signed]
Al Hussein Omar bin Hamidah, Misrata [signed]
Mukhtar Dhaw Al Akhdhar, Zintan [not signed]
Muhammad Abdulsalam Al Shah, Misrata [not signed]
Abdulsalam Abu Sitah, Zintan [signed]

Third parties

-

Description

18 point agreement between the towns of Zintan and Misrata ending over 4 years of conflict. The Agreement provides for the unity of Libya; equality in citizenship; an end to clashes; mutual respect; and end to media hostilities; respect for property, freedom of movement and the facilitation of trade; begin exchange of knowledge between public servants; ending the political crisis.

Agreement document

LY_180426_Pledge and Reconciliation Charter between the Cities of Misrata and Zintan_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Agreement document (original language)

LY_180426_Pledge and Reconciliation Charter between the Cities of Misrata and Zintan_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Formal structured process

Rationale

-> Link to national process; external support mechanism; culture of signing Although it is unclear whether the agreement was supported by a formal and national mechanism, it is embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements in this locale and in this timeframe. The agreement is the fruits of a second meeting between the representatives of the two cities in an attempt to promote reconciliation.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

Yes

Link to national process: articulated rationale

It seems that the agreement is linked to the national process. It was signed by local state leaders from municipalities ostensibly on different sides of the conflict. The agreement reaffirms the commitments of the signing parties to "their holy duty to build a state. It also mentions: - "Confirming the principle of citizenship and equality for all Libyans" - "Reiterating that any dialogue among Libyans must be Libyan-Libyan, and it must take place in Libya, with the rejection of any foreign interference"

Name of Locale

Misrata, Zintan

Nature of Locale

Region

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

32.352388, 15.077682

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

Page 1, Out of belief in Allah’s saying: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.”,

Page 1, Guided by His saying that: “And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”,

Page 1, In compliance with His saying that: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”,

Page 1, It was determined, if Allah so wills it, to complete this Charter so that it can be a charter of pledge and reconciliation between the two cities of Zintan and Misrata, and so that it can be the reference governing the relationship between the two cities, after the book of Allah and the sayings of his Prophet, in all affairs concerning the two cities, as follows:

Page 1, 6. Confirming support for the military and security institutions, two institutions whose loyalty is to Allah and the nation, under the supervision of a civil authority, and rejecting any coups or regional interference

Page 2, And peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

Grievance List

Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it seems that it addresses the local grievances that arose from the confrontation between the cities of Zintan and Misrata.

Page 1, It was determined, if Allah so wills it, to complete this Charter so that it can be a charter of pledge and reconciliation between the two cities of Zintan and Misrata, and so that it can be the reference governing the relationship between the two cities [...]

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.