The Good Friday Agreement (1998)

From the late 1960s onwards, Northern Ireland experienced a prolonged period of ethno-nationalist conflict known as the Troubles. The conflict was primarily between unionists and loyalists (largely Protestant, who wished Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom) and nationalists and republicans (largely Catholic, who wished for a united Ireland).

Over three decades, more than 3,500 people were killed in bombings, shootings, and other violence carried out by paramilitary groups on both sides, as well as security forces. The Troubles also brought violence to mainland Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

After years of negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement — also known as the Belfast Agreement — was signed on Good Friday, 10 April 1998. It was signed by the British and Irish governments and most Northern Irish political parties. The agreement was subsequently approved in referendums held on both sides of the border.

The British government under Tony Blair was instrumental in brokering the agreement, as was the Irish government and significant involvement from the United States, particularly Senator George Mitchell who chaired the negotiations.

The Agreement established a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland, based at Stormont in Belfast, in which unionist and nationalist parties would govern together. It also created cross-border institutions linking Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and confirmed that the status of Northern Ireland could only change with the consent of its people.

The Agreement ended most of the violence, though some dissident paramilitary activity continued. It is widely regarded as a landmark achievement in conflict resolution and one of the most significant political agreements in modern British and Irish history.