Mediating Tribal Conflicts in Darfur

While the main fighting between the armed movements and the Government continues to draw the attention away from the tribal conflicts, this year those conflicts have escalated and have become a more significant factor in the region.

By Retta Reddy

 

In 2013, Darfur’s tribal conflicts have spiraled out of control, leading to an estimated displacement of more than 300,000 people. In one recent example, on 3 April 2013 the Salamat and the Meseriya in East Darfur entered into conflict as a result of an alleged theft of a motorbike and a related death. Local authorities attempted to intervene as additional members of the Salamat and Meseriya began to move from Chad and South Darfur to support their tribe members in East Darfur. This conflict rapidly escalated and placed an enormous strain on UNAMID in protecting the civilians caught in the middle. It also created a dire humanitarian situation resulting from large numbers of civilians displaced.

A committee consisting of native administration leaders, community representatives and members of East Darfur’s legislative council assisted in the effort to contain the situation and initiate reconciliation. Despite an interim cessation-of-hostilities agreement signed on 7 April, more clashes took place between the two tribes. Other tribes associated with the Meseriya joined against the Salamat. UNAMID mobilized a mediation and reconciliation conference in Zalingei, Central Darfur, in early June. The conference led to a formal peace agreement signed on 3 July.

While one of the primary issues preventing peace in Darfur continues to be the fighting between the armed movements and the Government of Sudan, tribal clashes continue to be a major problem that, if left unaddressed, has the potential to engulf Darfur in violence. The tribes involved in these conflicts are interconnected across Darfur, creating a situation in which a tribal dispute in one location can quickly escalate into massive conflict throughout Darfur.

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