SUMMARY

The Masalit (alternative spellings: Masaleet, Massaleit, Masaalit, Massalit) are a large African group from the Zurga ethnic group that live in remote areas of Chad and Sudan. They are mostly located in Western Darfur around Geneine but also have substantial communities in Southern Darfur at Kubbi. Their traditional homeland is known as “Dar Masalit”, home of the Masalit. During the 17th century, the Masalit began converting to Islam and are today all Muslim. The language of the Masalit shares the same name with the group, although most Masalit also speak Arabic as a second language.

The leadership of the Masalit is organised around the sultan, who is the paramount leader. He in turn commands over a number of furshas (tribal head), who in turn rule over a number of sheiks (local leaders). As with most African groups in Darfur, the Masalit are primarily farmers, and as such have had several strenuous relationships with the Arabic nomad camel-tribes who journey through Dar Masalit during the year. The Masalit have had several clashes with these tribes over grazing and water rights, which eventually culminated into a violent armed conflict during the 1990s. The resulting conflict led to a mass displacement of the Masalit from their traditional homelands, instead becoming refugees in neighbouring countries or internally displaced persons in Darfur.

The Masalit, along with the non-Arab groups of the Fur and Zaghawa, declared themselves in rebellion against the Khartoum government in 2003. The Masalit self-defence forces are part of SLM/A (Sudan Liberation Movement/Army) and one of their prominent Masalit figures is Khamis Abdalla Abakir, Vice Chairman of the SLM/A and one of the first self-defence leaders in Dar Masalit. He was instrumental in convincing members of his tribe to join forces with the SLM/A in 2002/2003.

The Masalit have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.