Abbala beat, arrest 12 during tribes’ session in C. Darfur

Abbala tribesmen beat and arrested 12 members of the Almima tribe during a session in which they would receive the second installment of blood money for five murdered fighters. The Almima reportedly killed the five men last month in Umm Dukhum locality, Central Darfur. The session was mediated by 36 Shura (heads of communities) representing all tribes in Umm Dukhum locality on Thursday, sources told Radio Dabanga. They explained that, according to a previous agreement, the Almima must pay 150 cattle and 50 million Sudanese pounds for each of the five Abbala men they had killed. It was decided that the total amount of 750 cattle and 250 million pounds would be handed over to the Abbala in three installments. The first consisted of 250 cattle and 90 million pounds, and the second and third of 250 cattle and 80 million pounds. While the first term had already been paid, the Alimima were scheduled to pay the Abbala the second on 5 February, what did not happen, according to sources.   Instead, the Almima set up a session two days later on Thursday with the Abbala and reportedly brought 250 “weak” cattle with them. The Abbala were angered the Almima did not respect the deadline and because they brought “weak cattle”, which was not accepted. Amid the situation, Almima’s leader told his delegation to bring the session to a standstill until he would arrive to Umm Dukhum from El-Geneina. As a result, the Abbala started beating and whipping the 12 members of the Almima delegation, forced them into a Land Cruiser and took them to an “unknown location”. Omda denies beatings The omda of Umm Dukhum, Youssef Ishaaq al-Nour, who is also head of the shura council of the locality, denied the Abbala beat and arrested the Almima tribesmen when speaking to Radio Dabanga. He confirmed, however, that a misunderstanding between both parties occurred during the session which led to a quarrel. The reasonsof the quarrel, according to him are because the Almima did not pay the blood money within the stipulated deadline and because they offered “weak” cows to the Abbala. He assured the problem was contained and that the full compensation was paid, adding the Almima agreed to pay the third installment whenever the shura would decide. In return, the Abbala vowed not to assault the Almima until the third installment is paid. On his turn, the commissioner of Umm Dukhum, Yahiya Haroun, told Radio Dabanga he supported the release of the 12 delegation members on Friday. Haroun claims to have asked the Abbala to free the Almima and in return he would provide them 250 strong cattle.Radio Dabanga file photoRelated: C. Darfur Abbala, Beni Hussein clashes ongoing, death toll rises (18 January 2013)