Statement from the Sheikhs and Dignitaries of the Tribes of Tarhunah Regarding the Events Taking Place in Southern Tripoli

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Statement from the Sheikhs and Dignitaries of the Tribes of Tarhunah Regarding the Events Taking Place in Southern Tripoli
Date: 22 Jan 2019
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.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Libyan local processes
Parties: Sheikhs and Dignitaries of the Tribes of Tarhunah (Social Council of Tarhunah)
Third parties: -
Description: An agreement described as between civic leaders, which appears to solidify a ceasefires, directed at violence in Tripoli between rival militias linked to the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), including the 7th Brigade and Tripoli Protection Force connected to a Wafalla Tribe initiative in Southern Tripoli. The agreement concentrates on restoring relationships within the city.

Agreement document: LY_190122_Tarhunah Ceasefire_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_190122_Tarhunah Ceasefire_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Informal but persistent process
Rationale: -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; culture of signing The peace process under scrutiny is not supported by any formal national or regional mechanism. Moreover, it appear that this agreement is part of a larger and systematic peace process where agreement are commonly accepted as a way to resolve conflicts. Indeed the agreement mentions that signing parties "welcome the agreement that was a result of the efforts of the sheikhs and dignitaries in the Social Council of the Warfalla Tribes".
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: Although the agreement refers to local fighting, it is clearly linked to the national process. It involves local governance actors (tribal leaders and heads of city social council) that represent the people of the city of Tarhunah. It mentions that "The people of Tarhunah stress the importance of national unity".
Name of Locale: Tarhunah
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 32.433925, 13.634337
Participant type: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
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, They [The people of Tarhunah] also thank Allah for the wisdom that he has given everyone concerned with the matter.
Grievance List: Page 1, The people of Tarhunah welcome these efforts and commend them, and they give their sincerest thanks and appreciation to all who have intervened to fix the rift and de-escalate the crisis on the horizon.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: Page 1, 4. The members of the tribes of Tarhunah call upon the security agencies in the city to arrest all individuals accused of committing crimes in the city or outside it, and they ask all of the other cities and areas in Libya to do the same.

Page 1, 5. They also call upon those of them that are accused of crimes anywhere in Libya to present themselves to the courts to look into their cases and the charges against them. In the case that these individuals do not respect these values and principles, then the dignitaries and sheikhs of the tribes of Tarhunah, like other tribes, will have to take the necessary steps to end their right to reside and be protected in the city.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Statement from the Sheikhs and Dignitaries of the Tribes of Tarhunah Regarding the Events Taking

Place in Southern Tripoli

The Tarhunah Tribal Dignitaries Council has followed the efforts by the delegation of the Social

Council of the Warfalla Tribes and good people from the Greater Tripoli area with regards to the

events taking place in south Tripoli.

The people of Tarhunah welcome these efforts and commend

them, and they give their sincerest thanks and appreciation to all who have intervened to fix the

rift and de-escalate the crisis on the horizon.

They also thank Allah for the wisdom that he has

given everyone concerned with the matter.

The people of Tarhunah stress the importance of national

unity, rejecting any conflicts, and staying sensible, they welcome the agreement that was a result

of the efforts of the sheikhs and dignitaries in the Social Council of the Warfalla Tribes, and

they would like to stress the importance of the following:

1. Adhering to the provisions of the statement on the efforts for reconciliation that was issued

by the delegation of the Social Council of the Warfalla Tribes, which was approved by the

Reconciliation Council in the city of Greater Tripoli

2. The members of the tribes of Tarhunah reject violence and religious or political extremism,

and they confirm that the city of Tarhunah has nothing to do with any extremist agenda, and it will

not be held hostage by any group that uses violence to achieve its aims.

3. The people of Tarhunah give their sincerest and most heartfelt condolences to the victims of

these events, and they call upon all Libyans to give up their weapons and use dialogue to end their

disputes.

4. The members of the tribes of Tarhunah call upon the security agencies in the city to arrest

all individuals accused of committing crimes in the city or outside it, and they ask all of the

other cities and areas in Libya to do the same.

5. The members of the tribes of Tarhunah call upon all of the people who were sheltered by the

city of Tarhunah as a result of the events that the country is going through to adhere to the laws

in effect and respect the social customs and values in Libya with regards to social hospitality.

They also call upon those of them that are accused of crimes anywhere in Libya to present

themselves to the courts to look into their cases and the charges against them.

In the case that

these individuals do not respect these values and principles, then the dignitaries and sheikhs of

the tribes of Tarhunah, like other tribes, will have to take the necessary steps to end their right

to reside and be protected in the city.

Peace Be Upon You,

The Tarhunah Tribal Dignitaries Council

Statement from the Sheikhs and Dignitaries of the Tribes of Tarhunah Regarding the Events Taking Place in Southern Tripoli

Local agreement properties

Local issues

Source agreement