TRIBAL VIOLENCE ON A HIGH GEAR

It is very much worrying and terribly disturbing to both people and government in Sudan to hear such horrifying news of tribal bloody conflicts that took place in Darfur resulting in tens of deaths.
The stunning news says that on last Tuesday, May 7, 2020, violent tribal conflict erupted between two Darfurian tribes – Rezigat and Fallata – in West Darfur state (West Sudan) where 30 were killed and tens were injured. The reason was reported to be a robbery of cattle. Although the Prime Minister, Dr. A. Hamdok, ordered investigation and the government assigned a military force (80 armoured vehicles) to be deployed on the spot, the persistence of tribal conflicts remain a great challenge to Sudan.
Tribal conflicts have persisted for decades – through the course of consecutive regimes – but in the past the victims were or only a few deaths on both warring sides. However, in recent times the number of victims has always been on the rise due to two major factors:
The first one is the flow of fire arms from the neighbouring countries – namely Chad and Libya. This dates back to 1980s where conflicts in Chad pushed refugees into Darfur region of West Sudan. Some of them came with weapons which they sold to tribes in Sudan shifting tribal fighting from ‘white’ traditional weapons (swords, spears, knives, sticks, etc) to the use of modern fire arms.
The second reason is related to the vacuum resulted from the dissolution of the Native Administration since early 1970s. This traditional tribal administration used to maintain peace and order through traditional mechanisms such as negotiations, enforcement of customs, respecting the mediation of the elders/tribe leaders, and the consequent reconciliation. Although the Native Administration was re-instated later on, it was ‘politicized’ by the Islamic/military government of General Al-Beshir. This intervention has weakened the tribal social control of the communities and the people no longer respected the Nazirs and Omdas/mayors (later on renamed Ameers “princes”) who were nominated by the government from among those who are loyal to the ruling party.
Generally, Disputes and conflicts erupt in traditional tribal-based societies from time to time due to overgrazing or tribal reprisal, but they are usually limited and contained by tribal customs. Since the rates of conflict, the casualties, and the magnitude of losses have increased over a short period of time, with higher frequency, this has become a phenomenon affecting the social structure and political stability. These conflicts and disputes are not only worthy to be studied, but also reflect the failure of policies. For instance, in the first decade of the third millennia bloody tribal conflicts in Sudan resulted in 2,500 deaths.
It is noted that in the first decade of Al-Beshir (1989-1999) there were 25 tribal conflicts. So, this means that the disputes and conflicts are more than three times of the decade of 1980s (6 disputes/conflicts only). It is noted that in 2000, for example, there were 8 tribal wars in Darfur; 5 in 2006 and 4 in 2005, and the same in 2008. But the most important observation is that about 20 cases of bloody conflicts have occurred in one year (2013) – of which there were 15 between January and May of the same year. If the tribal disputes have increased during the rule period of Nimeiri in 1970s because of the dissolution of the Native administration, but the number of conflicts during Al-Beshir/Islamist era have doubled due to the politicization of the Native administration after its reinstatement.
So, to eradicate these persistent and sporadic tribal conflicts the government should – along with other measures – restore the previous status of the Native Administration and let communities get rid it of it gradually through development, education and, hence, awareness, as it happened in many modernizing societies.