Conflict Resolution Between the Almalea and Almanadel Tribes

This initiative involved the Paralegal and Human Rights Centre facilitating a series of emergency meetings between a government representative and the leadership of the two tribes in order to end their recurring conflict over land use.

Description

This initiative began when fighting started between farmers and animal rearers in June 2006. In all Sudanese villages the people work either at rearing animals or agriculture, so you can imagine how they will keep close to this because this is the only thing they do, no education, no clubs for playing, just this. If animal rearers come onto the farmers land with their animals this will lead to conflict because although the rearer doesn’t intend to destroy his land, sometimes an animal goes directly to eat what it prefers, and for the farmer this will destroy the crops that are his life. Because the farmer comes carrying his gun to kill this animal, the rearer takes his gun also because those animals are his life. It ends in a week when each group starts to shoot guns.

We as paralegals spoke to leaders of the tribes and community leaders and encouraged them to hold an emergency meeting with a governmental representative. After many meetings with leaders and tribal leaders we reached an agreement between the two tribes which is supposed to end the conflict.

Aims / Objectives

• We aim to give farmers and animal rearers a chance to gain their rights and to teach them that the law supports them and they do not need to fight to get their legal rights.
• We aim to set a good example for other organisations to follow because they are many tribal conflicts in Kordofan which need much effort.

How it is Articulated

We speak with community leaders and tribal leaders first then with government offices second then with farmers and animal rearers. Then we find the point that all parties agree on. When the agreement is reached we do not depend just on this agreement. To follow up we hold many workshops on the authority of the law and the CPA, and the best way to prevent conflict for the sustainability of the agreement.

Achievements / Learning points

• We are very happy that this agreement has stopped a long conflict between two tribes.
• We have learnt that a good way of maintaining peace is by using a strategy of sustainability to the agreement, through the workshops following the resolution of the conflict.

Geographical Area of Operation

Almalea village, Dilling, Sudan

Funding Resources

Paralegal and Human Rights Centre