Raids, rustling and retribution between tribes in Central Darfur

A series of raids and counter-raids in the area of Bundisi city in Central Darfur has led members of the Tama and Marareed tribes to seek refuge at the office of the Commissioner of Bindisi locality. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that a force of Abbala tribesmen in vehicles and mounted on horses and camels, stole 200 cattle belonging to the Tama and Marareed tribes early on Sunday. “A contingent went in pursuit of the Abbala, who were moving northwards towards Garsila. They were unable to intercept the thieves, but found another herd of cattle belonging to the Abbala, which they took in compensation,” sources said. “The Abbala then returned to the tribes’ neighbourhood in Bundisi on Sunday, subjecting people to beatings, as well as looting and pillaging.” This resulted in shops remaining closed for the rest of Sunday; a situation that continued into Monday.” The Abbala stipulated that the Tama and Marareed “owed them” 150 cattle, SDG10,000 ($1,735) and eight weapons, as well as fuel for the vehicles and feed for the horses and camels. Our sources state that “to diffuse the situation, the Commissioner of Bindisi locality paid SDG8,000 ($1,800), stipulating that the Tama and Marareed hand over 95 cattle”. The last reports to reach Radio Dabanga say that the Abballa tribesmen are waiting outside the town “for the remainder of what they are owed”, threatening to invade the neighbourhoods again should it not be forthcoming, and that “negotiations are continuing”. Sources say that in the meantime, the Tama and Marareed have fled their homes and are camped in an around the office of the commissioner, saying they will not leave before the matter is resolved. In a separate event, shops in Deleig in Central Darfur were also closed over the weekend as traders battened-down the hatches and shoppers fled to their homes. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the town’s market was raided by “a heavily armed combined group of army, police, and militia driving vehicles or mounted on horses and camels, apparently charged with a mission to find the men who murdered two policemen last week”. “They entered the town in broad daylight and demanded that traders at the market refuel them. When the traders refused, they took four motorcycles and about 300 cows at gunpoint,” witnesses said. Other merchants then apparently closed their shops and people fled home. File photo by Albert González Farran/UNAMID Related:Livestock rustling spree in Darfur ‘in spite of calm’ (14 July 2013)‘Banditry upsurge in Central Darfur’ following police station closures (10 July 2013)