79 killed in tribal violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile

July 18, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The death toll from tribal violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile region has reached 79, with 199 wounded, the federal health ministry said on Tuesday.

Clashes erupted in the Blue Nile region between Berta or Funj, the original inhabitants of south-eastern Sudan, and Hausa people whose ethnic roots are in Nigeria. The latter seek to establish a chiefdom and claim territory in the war-ravaged area.

The tribal violence sparked after the killing of a Hausa over land ownership in Roseiris on July 14. The clashes spread to Ed Damazin and other areas On 15 and 16 July.

The quick spread of violence across the region forced the SPLM-N governor of the region to impose a curfew in a bid to reduce the bloody violence after horrible scenes of lynching and indiscriminate attacks on Hausa who are also seen as supporters of the former regime.

The Sudanese ministry of health dispatched a team of doctors, medical equipment and medicines transported a military cargo plane after calls by local authorities.

“The report from the Blue Nile Provincial Ministry of Health reported a total of 79 deaths, including eight died in hospitals, 199 injured, while ten people seriously wounded have been airlifted for treatment outside the region,” reads a statement released by the Federal Health Ministry.

The Hausa communities in Kassala of eastern Sudan organized a protest and issued a statement pledging revenge for their tribesperson killed in several cities of the Blue Nile region.

For his part, Governor Ahmed al-Omda Badi pointed an accusing finger at the former regime saying that the al-Bashir government militarised the region and armed people.

In a briefing to UN agencies and humanitarian groups working in the Blue Nile, the governor said they formed an investigation committee and dismissed accusations that the SPLM-N armed the Funj to fight the Hausa.

Several sources in the region said the fighting was between a branch of the Berta called Hamaj and the Hausa.

However, the local authorities have been accused of not reacting rapidly to stop the tribal violence against the Hausa.

The Governor vowed to prosecute the responsible for the attacks identified by the investigation committee. Also, he stressed to work actively to restore order and peaceful coexistence in the region.

Al-Sadiq Hassan Saad, Blue Nile Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid affirmed their keenness to coordinate the efforts of UN agencies and aid workers in the conflict-affected areas.

Also, Saad called to conduct the necessary investigations into the violations that occurred to combat impunity.

In Khartoum, Lt Gen Shames al-Din Kabbashi, a member of the military-led Sovereign Council, headed a meeting of the Humanitarian Emergency Committee where he directed to provide humanitarian support to the affected civilians.

In a meeting attended by Malik Agar head of the SPLM-N, Kabbashi also called for restraint and to combat hate speech in the SPLM-N-governed region.

(ST)