Arab League monitors in Syria explained

On December 19, 2011, the Syrian government agreed to allow foreign observers from the Arab League to monitor Syria's progress in removing troops from protest areas, free political prisoners, and negotiate with dissidents. The mission was in accordance with the Arab League peace plan aimed to resolve the Syrian crisis. The monitors were dispatched and supported by the Arab League.^[1]

Timeline

26 December 2011

67 Arab League monitors arrive in Syria.^[2]

22 January 2012

Saudi Arabia withdraws from the Syrian observers mission.

24 January 2012

The Arab States of the Persian Gulf announce that they are withdrawing from the Arab League's observer mission in Syria.^[3]

28 January 2012

The Arab League suspends the monitoring mission due to "the critical deterioration of the situation".^[4]

Mission

Their mission was to ensure the government of Syria complies with the terms of the agreement. The Arab League's mission is non-interventionist, their only duty is to observe and report back to the secretary general.

Suspension

The Arab Foreign Ministers met in Cairo and agreed to form a unity government to lead Syria to parliamentary and presidential elections. President Bashar al-Assad would have had the duty to appoint a deputy president.^{[5] [6]}

On January 28, the Arab League announced an indefinite suspension of its mission, citing "a harsh new government crackdown made it too dangerous to proceed and was resulting in the deaths of innocent people across the country". Nabil al-Arabi, head of the Arab League, said that following discussions with Arab foreign ministers the league decided to suspend all monitoring activity in Syria.^[7]

Reaction

• Syrian opposition movements condemned the monitors and described the mission as a "farce", pointing to the continuation of violence against protesters in spite of the monitor's presence.^[8]
• questioned the credibility of the mission, challenging the leadership of Sudanese general Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi. After the massacre of Homs,^[9] Syria has argued that al-Dabi is unfit to lead the mission as he held key positions in Omar al-Bashi's regime.
• Saudi Arabia  decided to pull out its monitors from Syria on January 22.^[10] "My country will withdraw its monitors because the Syrian government did not execute any of the elements of the Arab resolution plan", Prince Saud al-Faisal told Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo.^[10]
• A mission official, on condition of anonymity, has said the operation would be extended and the number of observers almost doubled to 300.^[10] Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi was at the Cairo talks and due to chair a broader meeting of foreign ministers from the 22-member bloc to decide the future of the mission launched a month ago.
• Qatar  has proposed that Arab troops be deployed in Syria, but Damascus ruled out the idea.^[10]

Countries participating in the mission

A total of 165 Arab League monitors have participated in the mission. The following countries have been named as participants at some point or another:

• Saudi Arabia (until January 22)
• Qatar (until January 24)
• Egypt
• Sudan
• Bahrain (until January 24)
• UAE (until January 24)

Notes and References

1. http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/19/syria-agrees-to-let-arab-league-monitors-in-but-sanctions-remain/ Syria agrees to let Arab League monitors in, but sanctions remain
2. News: Arab League mission in Syria 'has only just started' . London . The Guardian . Ian . Black . January 7, 2012.
3. News: Gulf Arab states to pull observers from Syria . BBC News . January 24, 2012.
4. Solomon, Erika and Lyon, Alistair. Arab League suspends Syria mission as violence rages. Reuters. January 28, 2012. Accessed January 28, 2012.
5. Web site: Lin Noueihed. Arabs agree new Syria plan, urge U.N. support. January 22, 2012. Thomson Reuters. July 18, 2021.
6. Web site: Thomas Plofchan. Syrian Civil War - A Timeline of Syrian Civil War. Spring 2014. https://archive.today/20160322175130/https://www.thecairoreview.com/timelines/syrian-civil-war/. March 22, 2016. live. July 17, 2021.
7. http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20120129/NEWS0107/201290416/ Arab League monitors suspend Syria mission
8. News: Syria wants general overseeing Arab League mission out . . January 29, 2012 .
9. News: Arab League mission in Syria 'has only just started'. January 7, 2012. some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening. The Guardian.
10. News: Saudi Arabia withdraws its monitors from Syria; Arab League calls for power transfer . . January 22, 2012 .