Sudan declares state of emergency in Blue Nile region after tribal violence

October 21, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan declared a state of emergency in the troubled Blue Nile State, after tribal violence that killed at least 155 people.

Ahmed Alomda Badi, Governor of the Blue Nile Region, declared a state of emergency Friday throughout the region for thirty days, following the recent inter-communal clashes that started last July.

Badi further ordered the Sudanese army commander, the Police director, the General Intelligence Service director and the Rapid Support Forces commander in the state to use all means to stop tribal fighting and restore the state authority in the region, according to the decree seen by Sudan Tribune.

In a separate statement issued on Friday, the Blue Nile Governor formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the tribal fighting in Wad Al-Mahi headed by the General Prosecutor of the region.

The governor has already imposed a night curfew in Wad Al-Mahi area on Monday, banning gatherings or carrying weapons in the area.

However, the measure did not prevent further attacks that led to the killing of over 155 people including children and elders.

Hundreds of people protested outside the Blue Nile government headquarters, denouncing the violence and the lack of a strong security response to protect civilians.

Also, the protesters chanted slogans calling for the dismissal of the governor.

The SPLM-N Revolutionary Front of Malik Agar condemned the bloody violence and called the region security committee headed by Badi to take the needed measures to end the tribal attacks.

The peace signatory group which rules the Blue Nile Area further called to ignore hate speech and calls to violence in social media “in an attempt to mobilize public opinion against the peace process,” stresses the SPLM-N.

For its part, the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, which has three of its leaders in the Sovereign Council, issued a public statement calling on the military rulers to take the required measures to stop the violence.

“The Revolutionary Front calls on the central authority to intervene urgently to stop the inter-communal bloodshed and to impose the state authority and protect civilians”.

(ST)