SUMMARY

The brief clash between the Arabs of Awlad Zeid and the Africans of Zaghawa is seen as an example of the link between communal conflicts between tribes to the start of the Darfur rebellion in 2003. The two groups had clashed repeatedly since the early 1980s over water and land resources, and by the mid-1990s, the Zaghawa strongly suspected the government of arming and supporting the Arabs in attacks against their clan.

In 2001, the Zaghawa responded by creating four self-defense camps to defend against further clashes. The tensions between the groups passed a point of no return in May 2001 when the Awlad Zeid staged an attack on the Zaghawa at the Bir Taweel water wells, killing over 70 Zaghawas. The Sudanese army responded afterward by deploying to the area and keeping the Zaghawa from the wells.

The incident finally convinced the Zaghawa that their problems would not be resolved by fighting the Arabs. The connections between the Arab groups such as Awlad Zeid and the government became clear after Bir Taweel partly due to the army’s response but also as several weapons were found which originated in government factories in Khartoum. This event was pivotal in convincing the Zaghawa in founding the emerging rebel movement, SLM/A (Sudan Liberation Movement/Army), against the government together with the Fur and Masalit tribes.

The non-state conflict between the Awlad Zeid and Zaghawa tribes is first included in UCDP Data in 2001. In May of that year, the groups clashed at Bir Taweel, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.