Country/entity

Sudan
Darfur

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Non-aggression document by the components of the Misterei region (West Darfur Misterei Agreement)

Date

15 Dec 2021

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

Yes

Agreement/conflict level

Intrastate/local conflict

Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )

Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.

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Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

Sudan Local Processes

Parties

The list of signatories:

Sultan Saad Abd al-Rahman Bahr al-Din

Colonel Musa Hamid

Representatives of four armed movements; JEM (Justice and Equality Movement), GSLF (Gathering of the Sudan Liberation Forces), Sudanese Alliance and Sudan Liberation Army / Minni Minawi (SLA/MM).

Mustafa al-Jamil

Badr Ishaq Ushar

Tijani al-Tahir Karshum

Muhammad Adam Yahya

Third parties

Witnessed by the Sultan Bahr al-Din, Colonel Musa Hamid Duday, the representatives of JEM (Justice and Equality Movement), GSLF (Gathering of the Sudan Liberation Forces), Sudanese Alliance and Sudan Liberation Army / Minni Minawi (SLA/MM)

Description

A short inter-communal local agreement between communities of Masturei and armed groups to cease forms of attack and open roads and market spaces. The agreement is an iterative dialogue involving draft agreement among armed forces representatives and representatives of JEM, GSLF, the Sudanese Alliance an the SLA/MM followed by a signed agreement involving signatories from all sides. The agreement states disputes should be resolved through legal process.

Agreement document

SD_211215_Non-aggression document by the components of the Misterei region.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Formal structured process

Rationale

The agreement makes reference to following a model of iterative draft agreement and wider party signed agreement process. The agreement makes reference to the use of the same 'mechanism' used in Jebel Moon after inter-communal violence in July 2021 with increased violence breaking out in November. The agreement is supported by a witness and 'approved' by the Governor for West Darfur.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

No

Link to national process: articulated rationale

No clear reference in the text or from further research to indicate any link. The process is a regional effort to deal with ongoing violence in Darfur following disillusionment among Darfuri communities following the transition and Juba agreement of October 2020.

Name of Locale

Misterei

Nature of Locale

Region

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

13.125300, 22.158050

Participant type

Local armed group
Regional state actor

Mediator, facilitator or similar

No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

Page 1, Signed Agreement:

Signed agreement:
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Sovereign Council
The Darfur region
West Darfur State

Grievance List

Page 1, Draft Agreement:

We, the undersigned, representing the social components in the Misterei area in West Darfur state, pledge, to abide and obligate all our parties not to attack. We pledge to open markets and roads and abide by this.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.