28.11.2007 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

South Darfur: Violent clashes between Fur and Zaghawa IDPs and other ethnic groups in Kalma camp; Zaghawa and Massalit IDPs were detained and beaten by armed Fur men and children ("Final report on the situation of human rights in Darfur prepared by the group of experts mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/8, presided by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and composed of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment [A/HRC/6/19]") [ID 24046]

"In Kalma camp (South Darfur), a number of violent incidents broke out between Fur and Zaghawa IDPs following incidents that took place from 16 - 19 October 2007 during which three IDPs were killed and seven wounded.

Efforts by the Government to enter the camp were met with violent resistance. Humanitarian agencies were obliged to evacuate the camp. [...]

Violent incidents reported to have occurred inside Kalma camp between 18-23 October 2007, included attacks on civilians in market areas, restrictions on movements within the camp among tribal lines, as well as of those attempting to leave or return.

Much of the violence reported has been attributed to armed Fur, including children, against other tribes in the camp.

Four Zaghawa men were reported killed and one wounded on 18 October 2007.

The perpetrators were not identified.

Also on 18 October, a group of 30 armed and uniformed Fur men reportedly ordered shopkeepers in a Kalma market to close.

They shot in the air, destroyed some shop displays and provoked civilians to flee.

On 19 October, the same group returned in greater number and beat civilians.

On 20 October, groups of men armed with riffles and children armed with sticks from the Fur community organized in four sectors of the camp, where they implemented road blocks between the sectors to control the movement of IDPs along tribal lines, beating and arresting those from outside the Fur community.

Additional reports were received that Zaghawa and Massaliet IDPs were detained and beaten by armed Fur men and children."

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2006 - Source: International Crisis Group

Main support for Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) comes from Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ("To Save Darfur") [#46928],  [ID 20512]

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Darfur: Rebel movements drawn from three ethnic groups - Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit ("Q & A: Crisis in Darfur") [#46314],  [ID 20511]

Document(s): Open document

02.03.2006 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Southern Darfur: Clashes between Fallata and Massalit in Gereida ("Continuing insecurity hurting civilians in Gereida") [#45594],  [ID 20520]

Document(s): Open document

11.01.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

Systematic attacks, rape and torture against Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa by Sudanese security forces and Janjaweed militia ("Darfur: Assault on survival; A Call for Security, Justice, and Restitution (Physicians for Human Rights)") [#41668],  [ID 20523]

Document(s): Open document

23.12.2005 - Source: UN Security Council

Southern Darfur: 60 people killed in attacks on Massalit villages Southwest of Gereida ("Monthly report of the Secretary-General on Darfur [S/2005/825]") [#41094],  [ID 20522]

"In November, Southern Darfur had the highest number of reported incidents of violence, directed against both the local population and international organizations. There were also serious inter-tribal clashes in Southern Darfur between the Falata and the Massalit. Militia attacks on more than a dozen Massalit villages south-west of Gereida occurred from 6 to 17 November, resulting in an estimated 60 deaths, the highest figure recorded in the last year for a single incident. Huts were set on fire, fields and harvested crops were burned, and a total of 15,000 people were displaced. An attack of this scale, occurring over the course of more than one week in an area where the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is present, is a shocking indication of the Government’s continuing failure to protect its own population, and of the collective failure of the international community to prevent these horrendous crimes from occurring."

Document(s): Open document

25.01.2005 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Darfur: Serious human rights violations against Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit, Jebel, Aranga and other so-called 'African' tribes by government and Janjaweed ("Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations Secretary-General (Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1564 of 18 September 2004)") [#28845],  [ID 20524]

"Based on a thorough analysis of the information gathered in the course of its investigations, the Commission established that the Government of the Sudan and the Janjaweed are responsible for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law amounting to crimes under international law. In particular, the Commission found that Government forces and militias conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur. These acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis, and therefore may amount to crimes against humanity. The extensive destruction and displacement have resulted in a loss of livelihood and means of survival for countless women, men and children. In addition to the large scale attacks, many people have been arrested and detained, and many have been held incommunicado for prolonged periods and tortured. The vast majority of the victims of all of these violations have been from the Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit, Jebel, Aranga and other so-called ‘African’ tribes."

Document(s): Open document

25.01.2005 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Systematic targeting of Fur, Massalit, Zaghawa and other African tribes by government and Janjaweed may amount to persecution as a crime against humanity ("Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations Secretary-General (Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1564 of 18 September 2004)") [#28845],  [ID 20525]

"The fact that the killings committed by the Government and the Janjaweed appear to have been systematically targeted against the Fur, Massalit, Zaghawa and other African tribes on political grounds is indicative of the discriminatory character of the killing and may thus amount to persecution as a crime against humanity. [...]

In a vast majority of cases, victims of the attacks belonged to African tribes, in particular the Fur, Masaalit and Zaghawa tribes, who were systematically targeted on political grounds in the context of the counter-insurgency policy of the Government. The pillaging and destruction of villages, being conducted on a systematic as well as widespread basis in a discriminatory fashion appears to have been directed to bring about the destruction of livelihoods and the means of survival of these populations. The Commission also considers that the killing, displacement, torture, rape and other sexual violence against civilians was of such a discriminatory character and may constitute persecution as a crime against humanity."

Document(s): Open document

2005 - Source: Ethnologue

Information on Masalit language and regions where it is spoken ("Ethnologue report for Masalit language") [ID 20513]

Document(s): Ethnologue report for Masalit language