Peace Agreement between two tribes of the Qifah al-Manasah tribes in Al Bayda Governorate

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Country/entity: Yemen
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Peace Agreement between two tribes of the Qifah al-Manasah tribes in Al Bayda Governorate
Date: 15 Feb 2024
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Yemeni Civil Wars (1994) (2011 - )
The Republic of Yemen was formed in May 1990 after the merger between the Yemeni Arab Republic (YAR) in the north and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) in the south. The unification process was rushed and the final agreement between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and President Ali Salem al-Beidh was based on the imperfect promise of equality. Following the merger, integration of the militaries and civil services was at best incomplete or at times entirely non-existent. When Saleh’s General Congress Party (GPC) allied itself with the newly created Islamist Islah (‘reform’) party in 1993, the former ruling party of South Yemen – the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) – was effectively side-lined in the 1993 General Elections. Violence involving the use of heavy weaponry and aerial bombardment erupted in April 1994 and on the 21 May 1994 Vice President al-Beidh declared the secession of the south, citing political centralization with the northern highland tribes, violence against the YSP and economic discrimination. In the midst of fighting, negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, collapsed. The war ended with the military victory of the north, and on the 1 October 1994, Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected President.

Despite the unification of Yemen in 1990, political power during the 1990s and 2000s remained centralized with the northern highland tribes, particularly the villages from which President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his confidants stemmed. The system of clientelism established through the ruling General People’s Congress party maintained relative loyalty among the fractured political allegiances of Yemen’s traditional tribal leadership. However, diminishing oil reserves and the shrinking opportunities for access to rent increased economic and political marginalization in Yemen’s peripheral communities. The degree of regionalism of conflicts is further defined by other local grievances. In the northern governorate of Sa’dah, a backlash was provoked among the local Zaydi Shi’a against Sunni Salafist cultural incursions resulting in six wars between 2004 and 2010. In the southern governorates of Hadramawt, Shabwa, al-Dhali and Abyan, civil and military personnel forcibly retired after the 1994 Civil War began protesting and eventually formed the secessionist Southern ‘al-Hiraak’ movement in 2007. Furthermore, tribal grievances have spurred attacks on oil companies and government installations to extract rents. Various takfiri groups including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have also increased their presence since 1995.

The Yemen Spring in early 2011 allowed all these movements to express their joint displeasure. Moreover, factionalism in the regime split the already weak military and thus allowed the Houthis, the takfiris and tribal-based militia known as popular committees, to assert themselves militarily. Mandated by the UN-sponsored Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the National Dialogue held from March 2013 to January 2014 aimed at guaranteeing power-sharing among the different parties. However, the GCC Initiative only included formal political parties that did not accurately reflect political realities. Furthermore, provisions lacked adequate transitional justice and provided former-President Saleh, as well as others, full amnesty. As a result, little faith was placed in the process by formerly marginalized groups such as the Zaydi Shia Houthi rebels (Ansar Allah) and al-Hiraak who opted to increase their bargaining power vis-à-vis the state by strengthening their own territorial enclaves. In September 2014 the Houthis succeeded in capturing the capital Sana’a and gradually expanded their control southward. The subsequent UN-mediated Peace and National Partnership Agreement between transitional president Hadi and the Houthis on a federal, democratic Yemeni state, failed to be implemented as the Houthis successfully dissolved the parliament and deposed Hadi in January 2015. Following the Saudi military intervention to restore the Hadi government in March 2015, ceasefire attempts continuously failed. A two-year deadlock ensued until negotiations between the Houthis and the government of Yemen finally culminated in the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018. However, throughout 2019 the Saudi-led coalition continues to launch airstrikes. Furthermore, in May 2017 the Southern al-Hiraak movement had declared the secessionist formation of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), seizing the interim-capital Aden by January 2018. Territorial divisions between the Yemeni government, the Houthis, forces affiliated with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, local militias and tribes have continued to fracture the country.
Stage: Framework/substantive - comprehensive
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Yemen Inter-group Agreements
Parties: The people of Nasser Al-Dhahab and Bani Ali Al-Hurriya

The agreement was officially ratified and confirmed by the following representatives:
• Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Al-Dhahab
• Sheikh Muhammad Zain Allah Al-Dhahab
• Ali Muhammad Muslih Al-Dhahab
• Nasser Muhammad Ahmad Al-Amili
• Dhaif Al-Bar Hamad Daif Allah Al-Dhahab
• Fawaz Muhammad Lahad Al-Dhahab
• Saad Nasser Hussein Ali Al-Dhahab
• And others listed in the original document.
Third parties: Witnessed By
Sheikh Abdul-Wasie Masoud Al-Tayri and other tribal leaders.
Description: Short "peace treaty" Agreement between the people of Nasser Al-Dhahab and Bani Ali Al-Hurriya, with the goal of fostering peace and honoring tribal traditions. It will be in effect for four months, and any violation will hold the violator accountable, regardless of the circumstances.

Agreement document: English - YE_240215_Peace Agreement between two tribes people of Nasser Al-Dhahab and Bani Ali Al-Hurriya_EN (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): YE_240215_Peace Agreement between two tribes of the Qifah al-Manasah tribes in Al Bayda Governorate (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Isolated example
Rationale: While tribal mediation led to the agreement, the document is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Yemen. This indicates that the mediation process was, at some point, formalized and validated by official institutions. However, despite this level of formality, there is no indication that this agreement is part of a broader trend of signing peace agreements in the region or between these parties. Regarding the PA-X database, this is the first Yemeni local agreement recorded since 2019, making it an isolated example.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: T
Link to national process: articulated rationale: This is not a highly localised agreement between two tribes, since it refers to a whole region (Al-Bayda governorate). Moreover, the document is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Yemen. This indicates that the mediation process was, at some point, formalized and validated by national institutions. This might suggest a link to the national. However, there is no guarantee these groups have full or true affinity towards national institutions or the process and it cannot even clearly be ascertained what their stance is on the wider conflict.
Name of Locale: Qayfah al-Manasih, al-Bayda governorate
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 14.578244, 44.744301
Participant type: Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references)
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Local armed group Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): In the name of the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, on this day, a peace treaty was concluded between the parties mentioned above.
Sheikh Abdul-Wasie Masoud Al-Tayri and other tribal leaders.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Republic of Yemen

Ministry of Justice

Judiciary and Documentation Sector

General Administration for Documentation

Peace Treaty Agreement

Date:

February 13, 2024

Parties:

The people of Nasser Al-Dhahab and Bani Ali Al-Hurriya

Introduction

In the name of the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, on this day, a peace treaty was concluded between the parties mentioned above.

Their names are listed in this document.

The agreement was reached with mutual consent and free will, without coercion or pressure on any of the signatories.

The treaty is characterized as a clean and honorable peace agreement, observed within the bounds of the city, its roads, and in all related matters.

This agreement follows the traditions and customs of the tribe.

Terms of the Treaty

1. The peace treaty will remain in effect for four months starting from today's date.

2. Any violation of the treaty will result in the violator being held accountable for their actions, regardless of the type of violation or the circumstances surrounding it.

Signatories

This agreement was concluded under the supervision and presence of notable tribal leaders and witnesses, including:

• Sheikh Abdul-Wasea Masoud Al-Tayri

• Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Al-Waqidi

• Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Saradi

• Abdul-Karim Ali Ahmed Saleh Al-Sharqi

• Ahmed Masoud Ja’ Allah Al-Zamani

• Saleh Ali Al-Qamar Al-Hameeda

• Salem Saleh Khayyab

• Sayyid Mansour Al-Azani

• Muhammad Ali Nasr Al-Sharafi

• Fadl Zaid Ahmed Al-Sharari

• Muhammad Nasser Al-Hamad Al-Jarrah

• Al-Zir Salem Al-Hamad Al-Rubaie

Each signatory has committed to the terms of this agreement on behalf of themselves and their respective families and groups.

They vow to adhere to the treaty in both letter and spirit.

Ratification

The agreement was officially ratified and confirmed by the following representatives:

• Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Al-Dhahab

• Sheikh Muhammad Zain Allah Al-Dhahab

• Ali Muhammad Muslih Al-Dhahab

• Nasser Muhammad Ahmad Al-Amili

• Dhaif Al-Bar Hamad Daif Allah Al-Dhahab

• Fawaz Muhammad Lahad Al-Dhahab

• Saad Nasser Hussein Ali Al-Dhahab

• And others listed in the original document.

This treaty is a testament to the commitment of both parties to foster peace and uphold tribal customs.

It stands as a binding agreement and is recorded as such under the authority of the relevant tribal and judicial systems.

Witnessed By

Sheikh Abdul-Wasie Masoud Al-Tayri and other tribal leaders.

Peace Agreement between two tribes of the Qifah al-Manasah tribes in Al Bayda Governorate

Local agreement properties

Local issues

Source agreement