Crs Report for Congress: Status of Forces Agreement (Sofa): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?

The deadly attacks on Afghan civilians allegedly by a U.S. servicemember have raised questions
regarding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in place between the United States and
Afghanistan that would govern whether Afghan law would apply in this circumstance. SOFAs are
multilateral or bilateral agreements that generally establish the framework under which U.S.
military personnel operate in a foreign country and how domestic laws of the foreign jurisdiction
apply toward U.S. personnel in that country.
Formal requirements concerning form, content, length, or title of a SOFA do not exist. A SOFA
may be written for a specific purpose or activity, or it may anticipate a longer-term relationship
and provide for maximum flexibility and applicability. It is generally a stand-alone document
concluded as an executive agreement. A SOFA may include many provisions, but the most
common issue addressed is which country may exercise criminal jurisdiction over U.S. personnel.
Other provisions that may be found in a SOFA include, but are not limited to, the wearing of
uniforms, taxes and fees, carrying of weapons, use of radio frequencies, licenses, and customs
regulations.

Author: Congressional Research Service the Libr,R. Chuck Manson
Publisher: Bibliogov
Published: 11/11/2013
Pages: 38
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.19lbs
Size: 9.69h x 7.44w x 0.08d
ISBN: 9781294274704

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