201 killed in West Darfur tribal violence: governor
April 26, 2022 (GENEINA) – West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdallah Abkar on Tuesday said that 201 people were killed and about 103 others were injured as a result of the fresh tribal violence in the Kereneik locality.
Flowing the killing of two herders, the Arab tribes attacked on Friday the Kereneik area located 80 km east of the state capital. Eyewitnesses said that elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and former rebels participated in the clashes.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Abkar said he had sent security forces, about 12 vehicles (about 10 fighters for each vehicle) to protect civilians but they failed due to the big number of assailants who rushed from outside the state.
The governor further underscored that there were about 25 vehicles of the government joint forces but they withdrew due to a large number of attackers.
He stated that the Arab forces launched indiscriminate attacks on the Kereneik locality and committed crimes against humanity, during the holy month of Ramadan.
Also, he condemned the withdrawal of the government forces leaving the civilians adding such behaviour was unjustified.
The governor of West Darfur denied the participation of his troops in the attack saying they had no fighters in Kereneik.
In return, he said that gunmen riding a vehicle belonging to the Rapid Support Forces attacked mourners of the victims of the Geneina Hospital incident.
Sudanese army reaction
For its part, the Sudanese army denied accusations of complicity directed by Minni Minnawi Governor of Darfur against the government forces in the area.
“The army was not complicit in the bloody violence that took place in the West Darfur areas,” Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Spokesman told the Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
He added that the security and military services have made appreciable efforts to contain the crisis and control the security situation in the region.
When asked about the participation of the RSF elements in the tribal attacks, Abdallah said they would investigate these accusations adding that any element found involved in the tribal violence would be held accountable for his deeds.
“But, this does not mean the involvement of any component of the security system in the attacks, but rather an individual act. And those who found involved would be held accountable,” stressed the army spokesman.
(ST)