Four killed in northern Sudan tribal clashes, officials say

July 4, 2025 (AL DABBAH) – Four people were killed and several others injured after armed clashes broke out between members of the Kababish and Hawawir tribes in Sudan’s Northern State on Thursday, a local security committee said.

The violence, involving light and medium weapons, erupted in the city of Al Dabbah, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Khartoum. Regular forces intervened to separate the two groups and imposed a security cordon on the city, the committee stated in a press release on Friday.

Authorities attributed the incident to a dispute between youths from the two tribes. A Sudanese government spokesperson separately described the event as an “armed clash between tribal groups” that caused tension among residents.

However, conflicting reports have emerged over the cause. The National Union of Kababish, a tribal body, said the fighting was with a fuel smuggling gang from the Hawawir tribe and that three of its members killed were also enlisted in the Sudanese army. Other local reports had suggested an alleged kidnapping triggered the violence.

Officials said the situation had stabilized following intervention from security forces and community leaders.

Local authorities denied any link between the tribal conflict and the wider civil war being fought in other parts of Sudan, insisting the Northern State remains secure.

According to local media, youths from both tribes have been armed as part of a “popular resistance” movement that fights alongside the Sudanese army.