Country/entity

Libya

Region

Middle East and North Africa

Agreement name

Pledge of Agreement and Peaceful Coexistence Between Zintan and Zuwara

Date

29 Jun 2015

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

Ceasefire/related

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Libyan local processes

Parties

- First Party: Named Zuwara and represents Greater Zuwara
- Second Party: Named Al Zintan and represents the tribes of Al Zintan
The wise men and elders of both sides, represented by the Committee for Dialogue and Reconciliation that is made up of both sides...

Zintan Committee:

Saud Ali Muhammad Karash
al-Ramah Muhammad al-Dahnus
al-Mabruk al-Tahir Aburaqiqa
Musa Amr al-Qib
al-Sadiq Arhumah Ashissa
Salea Saad al-Duwib Amr


Zuwara Committee:

al-Tahir al-Sanoussi Yusef
Issa Said Salim
Ibrahim Ibrahim Jabara
Abd al-Aziz Musa al-Qurawi
Manji Muhammad al-Mansuri
Wasim Fathi 'Ashini

Third parties

-

Description

Agreement primarily deals with criminal justice and delimitation of rule of law between the two groups, prohibiting interference into each others affairs. Further provisions deal with (1) ending hostile media; (2) securing roads; (3) withdrawal of Zintan from Zuwara.

Agreement document

LY_150629_Zintan and Zuwara Agreement_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Agreement document (original language)

LY_150629_Zintan and Zuwara Agreement_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Formal structured process

Rationale

-> Linkt o national level; (external) support mechanism; culture of signing The signing of the agreement was supported by the locally-established Committee for Dialogue and Reconciliation. Moreover, the agreement is clearly embedded in a culture of signing (and supporting) agreements in this locale between tribes.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

Yes

Link to national process: articulated rationale

Although the agreement does not articulate any link to the national process, tt was signed by local state leaders from municipalities ostensibly on different sides of the conflict.

Name of Locale

Zintan, Zuwara

Nature of Locale

Region

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

32.433744, 12.126420

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, All praises be to Allah, who guides us to that which is good, helps us overcome obstacles, and enables us, through His mercy, to agree and purify our intentions, and peace and blessings be upon the most honorable of mankind, Muhammad bin Abdullah, and upon his family, companions, and all who follow him until the Last Day.

Page 2, And Peace Be Upon You, and Allah’s Blessings and Mercy

Grievance List

Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it seems that the confrontation between the tribes of Zintan and Zuwara lies at the centre of the dispute. The issue of administrative and territorial control seem particularly important to the parties.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.