Untitled Agreement [between Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Northern Storm Brigade]

Country/entity
Syria
Region
Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name
Untitled Agreement [between Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Northern Storm Brigade]
Date
19 Sep 2013
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Inter-group
Peace process
Syrian Local Agreements
Parties
Capt Ahmad Ghazalah [Signed] Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS; ISIL);
Abu Abdulrahman al-Kuwaiti [Signed] Northern Storm Front
Third parties
Witnesses:
Abu Tawfiq [signed] (Al-Tawhid Brigade)
Abu Ibrahim al-Shishani (ISIS)

[Note] a brigade is specified to operate as the barrier between the two parties, but the name is illegible.
Description
Short ceasefire between ISIS and Northern Storm Brigade


Local agreement properties

Process type
Isolated example
Rationale
-> Local issues only; external support mechanism; no culture of signing It is unclear whether a formally-established mechanism supported the negotiation - two witnesses were present. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups have a Salafist ideology; they oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Finally, nothing supports the claim that the signing parties engaged in a culture of signing agreements in this locale. Tensions between the two groups increase only in September 2013, that is, 4 months after the agreement.
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.
Name of Locale
NA
Nature of Locale
City
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
36.586775, 37.046692
Participant type
Local armed group
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
Grievance List
Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists five provisions to address local grievances.

Page 1,
1. Implementing an immediate ceasefire
2. Releasing all detainees who were detained because of the problems within 24 hours from
the date of the agreement
3. Returning all of the property taken by both sides
4. The [ILLEGIBLE] Brigade shall be a barrier between the two sides until the problem in Aghraz
ends.
5. The reference for any dispute between them will be a Shariah Board [illegible1] of both sides.
Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.


Source agreement

Untitled Agreement [between Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Northern Storm Brigade]

20 April 2013

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All praises be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon his Prophet

This is what was agreed upon between the two sides:

First:

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant

Second:

Northern Storm Brigade

Agreement:

Implementing an immediate ceasefire

Releasing all detainees who were detained because of the problems within 24 hours from the date of the agreement

Returning all of the property taken by both sides

The [ILLEGIBLE] Brigade shall be a barrier between the two sides until the problem in Aghraz ends.

The reference for any dispute between them will be a Shariah Board [illegible] of both sides.

First Party:

Abu Abdulrahman Al Kuwaiti

[Signed]

Second Party:

Capt.

Ahmad Ghazalah

[Signed]

First Witness:

Abu Tawfiq – Al Tawhid Brigade

[Signed]

Second Witness:

Abu Ibrahim Al Shishani

[Signed]

Most likely:

‘consisting’