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The Peace Deal That Ended Tajikistan's Bloody Civil War

June 27 marked the 24th anniversary of the signing of the UN-brokered Tajik Peace Accord that ended a five-year civil war between Tajikistan's secular government and a coalition of opposition groups led by Islamic forces.

This year, the Tajik government did not hold any public events to celebrate National Unity Day, which commemorates the signing of the peace accord. The five-year civil war that ended in 1997 led to the deaths of more than 150,000 people and saw over one-tenth of the Tajik population flee the country.

The peace accord included a political settlement that would give 30 percent of government positions to representatives of the United Tajik Opposition. However, Tajikistan has since banned the Islamic Renaissance Party that was officially registered during the peace process.

In 2015, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court declared the party to be a “terrorist” organization and jailed several high-ranking party officials on terrorism-related charges. Tajikistan's economy has never really recovered from the civil war, and poverty is widespread. Almost half of the country's GDP is earned by migrants working abroad, especially in Russia.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has been ruling the Central Asian nation since 1992 and is widely criticized for suppressing dissent and for widespread corruption in government agencies.

This gallery shows the rise of political tensions, the victims of the conflict, and the push for peace.

Protesters face government troops on Putovsky Street in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in February 1990. It marked the moment Islamists emerged on the country's political scene and bloody riots led to the deaths of 28 people. Authorities declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew.
1 Protesters face government troops on Putovsky Street in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in February 1990. It marked the moment Islamists emerged on the country's political scene and bloody riots led to the deaths of 28 people. Authorities declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew.
Political tensions grew with a mass rally near the Tajik parliament in July 1991. Protesters demanded the resignation of the government and the nationalization of property held by Tajikistan's Communist Party.
2 Political tensions grew with a mass rally near the Tajik parliament in July 1991. Protesters demanded the resignation of the government and the nationalization of property held by Tajikistan's Communist Party.
As the Soviet Union crumbled, Tajik nationalism surged and communist symbols fell. An old Tajik man looks at a toppled statue of Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin in downtown Dushanbe on September 28, 1991. 
3 As the Soviet Union crumbled, Tajik nationalism surged and communist symbols fell. An old Tajik man looks at a toppled statue of Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin in downtown Dushanbe on September 28, 1991. 
Government supporters punished those who challenged the authorities as violent incidents grew in Dushanbe during May 1992.  
4 Government supporters punished those who challenged the authorities as violent incidents grew in Dushanbe during May 1992.
 
Tanks from a Russian base were deployed on the streets of the city of Bokhtar (then Qurghonteppe) in the summer of 1992.
5 Tanks from a Russian base were deployed on the streets of the city of Bokhtar (then Qurghonteppe) in the summer of 1992.
In 1992, during the 16th Session of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan in Khujand, Emomali Rahmon (left) was elected chairman of parliament and head of state.  
6 In 1992, during the 16th Session of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan in Khujand, Emomali Rahmon (left) was elected chairman of parliament and head of state.
 
Fighters of the presidential guard carrying their wounded to a shelter in Kurgan-Tyube near Dushanbe, on August 11, 1997. More than 150,000 people were killed in the five-year conflict.
7 Fighters of the presidential guard carrying their wounded to a shelter in Kurgan-Tyube near Dushanbe, on August 11, 1997. More than 150,000 people were killed in the five-year conflict.
Tajik refugees in Afghanistan. During the five-year civil war, one-tenth of the Tajik population fled their country.
8 Tajik refugees in Afghanistan. During the five-year civil war, one-tenth of the Tajik population fled their country.
Camp Sakhi, in northern Afghanistan, built for the Tajik refugees in 1993  
9 Camp Sakhi, in northern Afghanistan, built for the Tajik refugees in 1993
 
Tajik refugees return home in October 1997 after leaving Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan.
10 Tajik refugees return home in October 1997 after leaving Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan.
Moscow sent Russian troops to Tajikistan to help the government. Pictured is General Pavel Lipsky, the deputy commander of Russian peacekeeping forces, on August 16, 1997.
11 Moscow sent Russian troops to Tajikistan to help the government. Pictured is General Pavel Lipsky, the deputy commander of Russian peacekeeping forces, on August 16, 1997.
Government soldiers on the outskirts of Kabodien in August 1997
12 Government soldiers on the outskirts of Kabodien in August 1997
The leadership of the Tajik government and opposition in Afghanistan meeting in Kabul under the auspices of the UN and Afghan President Burhonuddin Rabbani
13

The leadership of the Tajik government and opposition in Afghanistan meeting in Kabul under the auspices of the UN and Afghan President Burhonuddin Rabbani
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (left) and the leader of the Islamic opposition, Said Abdullo Nuri (right), during a ceremony to mark the signing of a peace agreement in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on December 23, 1996. In the center is the UN secretary-general's special envoy, Herd Merrem.
14 Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (left) and the leader of the Islamic opposition, Said Abdullo Nuri (right), during a ceremony to mark the signing of a peace agreement in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on December 23, 1996. In the center is the UN secretary-general's special envoy, Herd Merrem.
Tajik President Rahmon (right) and opposition leader Nuri (left) signed a general peace agreement in Moscow on June 27, 1997. The signing ceremony was attended by Russian President Boris Yeltsin (second right).
15 Tajik President Rahmon (right) and opposition leader Nuri (left) signed a general peace agreement in Moscow on June 27, 1997. The signing ceremony was attended by Russian President Boris Yeltsin (second right).
The implementation of the peace agreements allowed thousands of Tajik refugees to return to their native land in October 1997.
16 The implementation of the peace agreements allowed thousands of Tajik refugees to return to their native land in October 1997.
Tajik refugees, who had fled to the city of Mazar-e Sharif in neighboring Afghanistan, returned to Tajikistan in October 1997.
17 Tajik refugees, who had fled to the city of Mazar-e Sharif in neighboring Afghanistan, returned to Tajikistan in October 1997.
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