A peace agreement is a written arrangement between warring parties, usually States but increasingly involving non-State organized armed groups, to end a protracted armed conflict. The objective is to establish durable peace and the resumption of normal social and political life. Peace agreements may include a number of provisions, ranging from the termination of hostilities (Article 1) to the creation of transitional bodies such as truth and reconciliation commissions (Articles XIII-XVI Lome Agreement).
The success of peace agreements depends on their design and implementation. In addition to including effective mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of disputes, they should also address the root causes of the underlying conflict and promote inclusive governance. Peace agreements that incorporate these socio-political reforms tend to be more stable than those that do not, even if they involve a cessation of violence. However, many studies have highlighted the challenges of implementing peace agreements.
In particular, implementation difficulties stem from the design and structure of the peace agreements themselves. In addition, they can be hindered by implementation difficulties related to the political participation of former combatants and the organization of elections. In these cases, scholars have proposed a variety of strategies for overcoming these obstacles and achieving sustainable peace.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the role of third parties in the implementation and monitoring of peace agreements. Their involvement can range from active mediation, as in the case of the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, to simply providing a platform for the parties to meet.