8 killed in renewed tribal clashes in East Darfur

August 16, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Eight people were killed following the renewal of tribal clashes between Reizaigat and Ma’alia in East Darfur state on Saturday.

The fighting erupted between the two tribes after the theft of livestock belonging to Ma’alia people in Abu Rakubah area which is part of Abu Karnaka county, East Darfur on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses from the area told Sudan Tribune that a group of Ma’ali tribesmen who pursued the raiders was ambushed by a group of Rizeigat gunmen.

“The clashes continued until Saturday afternoon,” further said an eyewitness.

The tribal clashes in Darfur are seen as the major cause of violence and instability.

The government recently launched a number of conferences to mitigate the tensions and pacify the troubled region. However the spread of weapons and the implication of armed tribesmen belonging to government militias hamper these efforts.

Last July, the vice-president Hasabo Abdel Rahman tried to mediate between the two tribes and organise a reconciliation conference in Al-Foula in West Kordofan state.

However, the meeting was cancelled after the Rizeigat rejected the participation of some Ma’alia members, saying they belong to another tribe. The Ma’alia were also sceptical about the involvement of the vice-president who is a member of Rizeigat tribe.

The two tribes also failed to hold another conference scheduled for 10 August.

(ST)