Declaration of Good Intentions

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Declaration of Good Intentions
Date: 17 Oct 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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Libyan local processes
Parties: For the delegation of the Murzuq Arab citizens – Ali Mohamed SHAMSI
For the delegation of the Murzuq Tebu – Al Senousi Aja Saleh TOKA
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement facilitated by Aca Pacis Initiatives for Peace, the aim of starting a process of restoring trust and supporting the return of the displaced.

Agreement document: LB_191017_Declaration of Good Intentions (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LB_191017_Declaration of Good Intentions_AR (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: The meeting was organized by the not for profit organization Ara Pacis Initiative, with the support of the Italian government. Further meetings convened by Ara Pacis Initiative are planned.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: No mention of national peace process in agreement, and secondary research reveals no links.
Name of Locale: Murzuq
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 25.918266, 13.926000
Participant type: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): The meeting was organised by the Ara Pacis Initiatives for Peace, an international non-governmental organisation based in Italy, supported by the government of Italy.
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Agreement of Good Intent – Murzuq Peace Dialogues

Between the Aheli and Tebu of Murzuq

In the framework of a meeting held in Rome from 14 to 18 October, organized by the not-for-profit organization Ara Pacis Initiative, with the support of the Italian government, the delegation of the Arab citizens of Murzuq (Aheli) and the delegation of the Tebu of Murzuq found an agreement in principle on the following points:

1. To identify abducted and missing persons, to disclose their fate, and to return them to their families.

2. To establish a fact-finding commission, binding for both parties, and to permit it to have access to the city, along with human rights organizations and local media, in order to find out the facts.

3. To allow a technical commission to assess the extent of damage to public and private property.

4. To take all necessary measures to facilitate the safe and peaceful return of displaced persons to their homes.

5. To cease all hostilities affecting civilians and their property and to stop hate speech.

6. To form a commission composed of the heads of the Murzuq banks, the Tebu Elders of Murzuq, and the persons designated by the mediating party that will supervise the reactivation of the banking system in order to provide banking services to customers in displacement areas until return, ensuring that the infrastructure is not compromised.

7. To form a tripartite commission to monitor the implementation of this agreement, consisting of two members from the delegation of the Arab citizens of Murzuq (Aheli), two from the delegation of the Tebu of Murzuq, and two appointed by the mediating party.

The two delegations undertake to implement the terms of this understanding in the short term and pledge from now their readiness to start a process of constructive dialogue in order to reach a final agreement for peaceful coexistence between the two parties.

The dialogue phase will start with a meeting convened by Ara Pacis Initiative in Rome under the auspices of the Italian government.

Delegations from both sides will participate, along with notables, sages, and dignitaries from the Fezzan and Libya.

The Parties express their unremitting will and determination to make every effort to reach the final agreement.

Signatures:

Heads of Delegations

For the delegation of the Murzuq Arab citizens – Ali Mohamed SHAMSI

For the delegation of the Murzuq Tebu – Al Senousi Aja Saleh TOKA

ROME, October 17, 2019

Source:

Ara Pacis Initiative

Declaration of Good Intentions

Local agreement properties

Local issues

Source agreement