Over 50 killed after tribal clashes in South Darfur

April 21, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Over Fifty civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in renewed clashes between two nomad tribes in Sudan’s South Darfur State.

The clashes broke out over cattle rustling on Tuesday between Rizeigat and Al-Saada tribes in Al-Ban Jadid, Wohda district, some 61 kilometers north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State .

The clashes between the two Arab tribes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of more than 50 people from both sides. However there are contradictory reports about the number of victims from each side.

Al-Sudani daily newspaper reported that Rizeigat armed elements used trucks equipped with heavy machine guns to attack and burn three villages near Al-Ban Jadid.

The Rizeigat who are living in northern Darfur and Chad are largely involved in the ongoing conflict in Darfur where they fight against the rebel groups. They clashed in the past against the Messeriya and the Turgum ethnic groups, both also are nomad groups, for the control of water sources and land.

In the meantime, Khartoum’s Al Ray Al A’m daily quoted commissioner of Wohda in South Darfur State as saying that two security committees of the state and Wohda are present at the sites and that the situation has been under control.

He said that a committee has been formed to calm the tension between the two sides and tackle the root-causes of the problem.

(ST)