In what is being seen as a major setback for peace in Northern Ireland, a loyalist group has announced its withdrawal of support for the Good Friday Agreement.
The Loyalist Communities Council, which represents several paramilitary groups, made the announcement in a statement, citing concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which governs post-Brexit trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, brought an end to decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles. It established a power-sharing government and called for the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
The Loyalist Communities Council had previously supported the agreement, but its withdrawal of support casts doubt on its future. The group cited concerns over the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol on the union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as what it described as “demonization” of loyalist culture.
The Northern Ireland Protocol, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, is part of the Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU. It effectively keeps Northern Ireland in the EU`s single market for goods, meaning goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain must comply with EU rules.
Critics of the protocol say it has effectively created a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as it requires checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain. Proponents argue it is essential to protect the Good Friday Agreement, as it avoids the need for a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.
The withdrawal of support from the Loyalist Communities Council is a worrying development for peace in Northern Ireland. It underscores the challenges of balancing the competing interests of unionists, who want to maintain Northern Ireland`s place in the UK, and nationalists, who want a united Ireland.
The Good Friday Agreement was a hard-won achievement that brought an end to some of the worst violence Northern Ireland had ever seen. It is imperative that all parties work together to find a way forward that respects the agreement and the interests of all communities in Northern Ireland.