Good Friday Agreement: The historic Good Friday Agreement turns 25 this Easter. Signed on April 10, 1998, it was a political deal that was designed to end three decades of violence and bring peace to Northern Ireland. The agreement, which also came to be known as the Belfast Agreement, was approved by public votes and saw the Irish Republican Army and some other groups lay down their arms, bringing an end to the Troubles, as the 30 years of violent conflict was known as.
Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland participated in the vote on May 22, 1998, which called for a devolved government in Northern Ireland. The agreement signed on Good Friday earned a joint Nobel peace prize for David Trimble and John Hume, who were leaders of the Ulster Unionist party and the SDLP, respectively.
According to media reports, a series of events will mark the commemoration of the historic deal, with US President Joe Biden set to visit Northern Ireland on April 11. Former US President Bill Clinton and former UK PM Tony Blair are also expected to visit for commemorative events.
The Good Friday Agreement has been credited with bringing peace to Northern Ireland, and is known to have touched on every aspect of life in the country. However, it has also faced challenges and criticism, particularly in the wake of the Brexit referendum, which has raised questions about the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Let’s take a look at what led to the conflict in the first place and how the Good Friday Agreement finally came about.
All About The 'Troubles'
In 1921, when the island of Ireland was divided, Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom, while the rest of Ireland became an independent state. However, this caused a split — between the Unionists in Northern Ireland, who wanted to stay within the UK, and Nationalists who wanted to join the Republic of Ireland.
As documented records suggest, things took a violent turn by the late 1960s when armed groups from both sides — the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), for example — started to carry out bombings and shootings. In August 1969, the British government sent troops to Northern Ireland to control the situation, but their presence only led to further violence and allegations of human rights abuses.
This period of sectarian conflict and violence continued for three long decades, and came to be known as the Troubles, which finally ended in 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that established a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, though it is currently suspended over a Brexit row.
Recorded history chronicled through the three decades shows the conflict mainly involved the two groups — Unionists, who were predominantly Protestant, and Nationalists, who were predominantly Catholic.
The conflict is known to have had deep roots in political, economic, and social factors, as well as religious and cultural divisions. The Troubles period saw deaths of over 3,500 people and left thousands more injured.
What Did The Good Friday Agreement Say?
The Good Friday Agreement set up a new government for Northern Ireland, which represented both Unionists and Nationalists. The Northern Ireland Assembly, an all-new parliament, came up in Stormont, Belfast.
The agreement itself is a lengthy and complex document that covers a wide range of issues related to the governance and future of Northern Ireland.
Some of the key provisions of the agreement are:
Power-sharing government: The agreement allowed the establishment of a government in Northern Ireland that gave both the Unionists and the Nationalists a say in its functioning. The government is headed by a First Minister and a Deputy First Minister, both appointed jointly by the two largest parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Devolved government: The agreement granted the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive more decision-making powers in relation to governance.
Decommissioning of paramilitary weapons: The agreement called for the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons held by groups involved in the conflict.
Release of prisoners: The agreement allowed for the early release of prisoners who had been convicted of offences related to the conflict.
Human rights protections: The agreement established a number of human rights protections, including the establishment of a Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland.
Recognition of identities: The agreement recognised the right of the people of Northern Ireland to identify as Irish or British, or both, and affirmed the importance of respecting cultural diversity in Northern Ireland.
North-South cooperation: The agreement called for increased cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in areas such as agriculture, tourism, and health.
The Path To Nobel
David Trimble and John Hume were jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1998 "for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland".
Acknowledging the 30 years of national, religious and social conflict, the Norwegian Nobel Committee had while announcing the prize said it hoped the foundations laid by the Good Friday Agreement “will not only lead to lasting peace in Northern Ireland, but also serve to inspire peaceful solutions to other religious, ethnic and national conflicts around the world”.
About Hume, the committee said he had been throughout “the clearest and most consistent of Northern Ireland’s political leaders in his work for a peaceful solution”. For Trimble, it said the leader of the traditionally predominant party in Northern Ireland showed “great political courage when, at a critical stage of the process, he advocated solutions which led to the peace agreement”.
Hume and Trimble died in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
With the power-sharing agreement suspended over the Brexit row, their sons have said their fathers would have found a way of solving the political deadlock if they were alive, The Guardian reported.
Nicholas Trimble and John Hume Jr were quoted as saying that their fathers would not have liked the absence of government for more than a year.
What Is The Brexit Challenge?
After Britain’s exit from the European Union, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that now shares a land border with an EU member — the Republic of Ireland. As a result, there are now checks required on goods that are transported between the markets of the UK and the EU.
According to media reports, both sides have agreed that these checks should not take place at the Irish border in order to protect the Good Friday Agreement. However, there is fear that setting up of new checkpoints could threaten the cross-border cooperation that is essential to the agreement.