Characteristics of the Tribal Misseriya in Abyei and Their Role in Current Sudan Conflict - Research Paper Example

Initially, the Arab traders used to trade on the African slaves through north Sudan. These slaves were often collected from the interior land of south Sudan. Some of the black African women were kept by these Arabs as their concubine. When these women later had children with the Arabs, they became half Arabs and half Africans. Misseriya is one such tribe with corrupt identity who has been discarded by both Arabs as well as the Africans. Misseriya tribes, though have been discriminated against, prefers to be Arabs.

They speak Arabic and follow the traditions and cultures of the Arabs. From the education point of view, these mixed tribes of Mundukuru, Janjaweed, Jalaba, Misseriya etc. have an advantage over the black Africans as they formers were accepted by the Arabs as their offspring and were therefore provided education. (Silvio, 2011) Tribal customs to maintain peace Some of the customs, which has evolved over the years, in order to maintain peace among the different tribes of Sudan and for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, are that they should respect their elders who are the custodians of their customs and traditions, they should be taught to be able to “forgive and forget” and not carry forward grudges, should have respect for traditions, should try to keep away from conflicts and violence with other groups, should maintain cordial relationship with the neighboring tribes etc.

(Suleiman, 2011, p.4) Misseriya and the ongoing Sudan conflict The reason for conflict between the Ngoc Dinka and the Misseriya herders lies in the fact that the Ngoc Dinka claim to have native rights on the territory but the Misseriya herders rely on those fertile pieces of land for grazing their cattle. The conflict is turning into in impasse on the ground, blocking trade from the North and stranding thousands of Southerners who want to return back to home from North Sudan. These tribes have centuries of conflict behind them.

There existed group of Misseriya militia who used to attack people travelling from north to south or vice versa in Sudan. The Misseriya tribe also fears that Abyei will want to be a part of Southern Sudan when it will vote in 2011 referendum to split from Sudan and as a result of which the Misseriya tribe may lose their conventional grazing rights and therefore their livelihoods. (Sudan Watch, 2009) The president of South Sudan has promised in the past as well that Misseriya will not cease to enjoy its grazing rights even after the north-south border turns into an international border but the situation is far from resolved.

The situation had become so critical that the tribal leaders of Misseriya had given war warnings some six days before the votes in South Sudan on the matter of splitting itself from the Northern Province was due. The Dinka tribes, another major tribe of Abyei, were willing to join south. It was announced that a war without any excuse will be the outcome of such a move, i.e. trying to appropriate Abyei to the south. The result of the conflict was that the vote, which was due on 9th of January, 2011 has been delayed till the issues of borders and residency rights are not cleared.

(Sudan Tribune, 2010) A local agreement on grazing rights has been signed on January 14th 2011 between the elders of Ngok Dinka and Misseriya but it