A ceasefire agreement is an arrangement that regulates the suspension of hostilities for a defined period in a specific context. This can be a pre-negotiation stage of a peace process, and typically aims to bring about a temporary cessation of violence with a view to facilitating a more formal negotiation process addressing the root causes of conflict.
Ceasefire arrangements can be implemented in both international and non-international armed conflict contexts, and tend to include a set of related considerations including: the timing of commencement; identification and definition of prohibited acts; separation of forces (including delineation of ceasefire lines and buffer zones); verification, monitoring, and supervision; and ad hoc provisions dealing with issues specific to a particular conflict and perhaps beginning to sketch out a future agenda for a more comprehensive settlement.
In addition to these general matters, a key concern is that any humanitarian assistance provided in the context of a ceasefire agreement may be used as bargaining chips in negotiations on other aspects of a larger conflict resolution plan. It is therefore important to carefully consider the implications of this risk in the planning stages.
Finally, because ceasefire arrangements can have significant military dimensions, it is important to ensure that the language is clear and precise, and that troop movements are documented. This can help reduce the scope for’mistakes’ that reignite the armed conflict, and facilitate effective implementation of the arrangements. This is particularly important where the troops being withdrawn are those of another State.