Assassinations of tribal leaders stoke fears of renewed clashes in South Kordofan
May 9, 2024 (KADUGLI) – Concerns are mounting in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State, over the potential for violent tribal confrontations following the assassinations of two prominent Arab tribal leaders.
On May 1, gunmen fatally shot tribal leader Hamdan Ali Al-Boulad outside his home in the Klimo neighbourhood. The assailants escaped to an unknown location.
Al-Boulad, the emir of the Rawwaqa branch of the Hawazma tribe, was also the head of the South Kordofan Farmers’ Union and a leader of the National Umma Party in the state.
Just days later, on May 7, Suleiman Sanad Suleiman Al-Shein, the son of the Emir of the Al-Dulmba branch of the Hawazma tribe, was similarly gunned down inside his home in the Al-Zindiyah neighbourhood.
A prominent community leader in South Kordofan, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, accused the Military Intelligence of the 14th Infantry Division of orchestrating the attacks to incite tribal warfare in Kadugli. This, he warned, could mirror the violent clashes of 2020, which resulted in the deaths of dozens from the Nuba and Arab tribes.
“Targeting civil leaders in their homes is intended to provoke their communities into seeking revenge, potentially leading to a total collapse of security,” he told the Sudan Tribune. He called on local security and police forces to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and disclose the findings of their investigations to uncover the motives behind these targeted assassinations.
The assassinations have triggered widespread anger and warnings about the potential for escalating violence in Kadugli. Tribal militants have begun to mobilize around the villages surrounding the city, raising fears of further conflict.
In response, Brigadier General Moataz Ahmed Kidero, Director of the South Kordofan State Police, announced at a press conference on Wednesday that suspects in Al-Boulad’s killing had been arrested. He also vowed to capture those responsible for the assassination of Al-Shein.
Wider context of conflict
South Kordofan has been heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The paramilitary forces currently control Al-Quz locality, a strategic area connecting South Kordofan with North Kordofan. Meanwhile, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu controls significant areas in Dilling and Abbasiya localities and parts of the eastern countryside of Kadugli.
The siege imposed by the RSF and the SPLM-N al-Hilu, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, causing severe shortages of essential goods and petroleum products.
Last week, the Sudanese government announced that Shams al-Din Kabashi, a member of the Sovereign Council and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army, had reached an agreement with SPLM-N al-Hilu to allow humanitarian aid into areas controlled by both sides in South Kordofan.
The Africa Justice—Sudan, a local group in South Kordofan, welcomed the agreement between the army and the SPLM-N and urged them to sign a cessation of hostilities and restore peace and security.