Taif Agreement
Under no circumstances shall any revision take place with-
out the unanimous agreement of the parties.
Article 20.–After the pact has been operative for ten years,
any party may withdraw from it. However this measure shall
come into effect only one year after the party concerned shall
have notified the Government of Madagascar of this denuncia-
tion. The latter shall so inform the Governments of the other
parties.
Article 21.–In addition to the protocols referred to in the
articles, protocols annexed to the present pact shall settle the
conditions of its application to the extent necessary.
Article 22.–The original of this pact shall be deposited in the
Archives of the Government of Madagascar.
Certified true copies shall be forwarded by the said Govern-
ment to the Governments of the other signatory States.
In witness whereof the undersigned, Heads of State or duly
authorized plenipotentiaries, have signed the present pact.
4.1375 Taif Agreement
Alliance Members:Jordan and Saudi Arabia
Signed On:August 29, 1962, in the city of Taif (Saudi Arabia). In
force until May 30, 1967.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,August 1962.
SUMMARY
Tensions were high on the Arabian peninsula when a civil war erupted
in Yemen in 1962. Egypt aggressively backed a new republican govern-
ment in Yemen, while the Saudi government continued to support the
royalist regime of its neighbor.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia ended a three-day meeting in Taif with the
announcement of this treaty. The most important aspect of the treaty
was the formation of a joint military command, and the treaty specifi-
cally confronted Egypt, making the claim that Cairo was a “reactionary
government.” The agreement also encouraged a reduction of trade
barriers and pledged to work toward Palestinian peace, which was a
common refrain in most Arab agreements of the time.
In May 1967, Egypt barred Israel from the shipping route through the
Strait of Tiran, and Israel promptly declared Egypt’s action an act of
war. Feeling strong pressure from Arab fundamentalists, King Hussein
of Jordan traveled to Cairo on May 30 and signed a military alliance
with Egypt. The agreement placed Jordan’s military forces under
Egyptian command.
Description of Terms
The treaty advocated a policy of “close military, political, and
economic collaboration,” including the establishment of a joint
Saudi-Jordanian military command. Other Arab countries were
welcome to join the treaty, which would promote economic
unity, trade, and cooperation on frontier problems.
4.1376 Mutual Defence Pact between Kenya
and Ethiopia
Alliance Members:Kenya and Ethiopia
Signed On:November 22, 1963, in the city of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
In force as of date of publication of this volume.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,December 1963.SUMMARY
During the 1960s and 1970s, Kenya faced low-level conflict on its
northern border as those of Somali origin wished to secede to Somalia
and create a greater Somaliland. This pact, signed in 1963, was an
attempt to counter efforts by Somalia to thwart the Soviet-aided
buildup of Somali troops and weapons. The Somali buildup eventu-
ally led to the launch of the Ogaden War against Ethiopia, during
which Kenya fought the Somali irredentist forces along its border. This
defense pact is still in force as of publication of this volume.Description of Terms
Both parties pledged to come to the aid of the other in case of
attack by a third party. The pact also pledged cultural and eco-
nomic cooperation between the two countries. The pact was
signed in July and announced on November 22. However, it was
not ratified until December 27, following Kenyan independence
on December 12.4.1377 Agreement on the Establishment and
Operation of the Central-American Defence
Council (CONDECA)
Alliance Members:Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador
(Costa Rica and Panama were observers only)
Signed On:December 14, 1963, in the city of Guatemala City. In force
until July 14, 1969.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:United Nations Treaty,no. 7399.SUMMARY
The Central-American Defense Council (CONDECA) integrated the
militaries of several Central American states under one command,
providing a structure for shared intelligence and communication
among the signatories as well as closer ties to the United States. The
effort was directed at internal subversion and attempted to thwart the
growing strength of communist groups in Central America. Coun-
terinsurgency forces were linked with several coups d’état and
attempted coups in the region.
The alliance was disbanded with the outbreak of the Football War
in July of 1969. Rioting during the second qualifying round for the
1970 World Cup exacerbated existing tensions, and the army of El Sal-
vador launched an attack on Honduras. The Organization of Ameri-
can States negotiated a treaty to settle the conflict. An attempt made to
revive this alliance in 1983 failed.