SUMMARY

The Hotiya Baggara (alternative spellings: Hutiya, Hutija) are a small tribe originally from Chad now living in the central regions of West Darfur. In these areas, the group makes up about 4 percent of the total population. They are led by a nazir (tribal chief) who in turn command the wakils (deputy chiefs) the omdas (sub-district administrative chiefs) and the sheikhs (village leaders). One of the more prominent leaders, especially during the clashes between Abbala and Baggara in later years, is Omda Suliman Bakhit.

The Hotiya are a subgroup of the Baggara, a large Arab group that resides in Darfur, North and South Kordofan as well as in some areas of Chad. Baggara means cow in Arabic, denoting the livelihood and profession of the Baggara groups in being mainly cattle herders. They speak the Shuwa dialect of Arabic. Although mostly nomadic, the Baggara are more semi-mobile pastoralists with most living in villages and the younger men herding the cattle on a seasonal basis.

Recently, the Hotiya Baggara have diversified from cattle to focusing on crops and expanding their farms. This has led to repeated clashes with nomadic camel herders over grazing land and water sources.

The Hotiya Baggara has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.