Clashes in Sudan’s Abyei drive away hundreds of inhabitants

By Ngor Arol Garang

July 14, 2010 (WUNROK) — A recent armed confrontation between local police and armed groups reportedly associated with some members of Misseriya tribe, in southern Kordofan state at the extreme eastern town of Abyei, has driven away at least 600 local residents from their homes.

The conflict has tripled the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area, according to a local official working with the Khartoum-based Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Abyei.

“We have received 600 internally displaced persons from Tajlei [village] after the recent clash in the area last week. They are here in Abyei,” said Bol Riing Alor.

Alor said members of the Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) and HAC teams on the ground have reported serious humanitarian needs in the area. Tajlei and its surrounding area were in May 2008 spared from clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) over the control of the oil rich region.

The 2008 violence, which burned down the whole town to ashes, arose from several factors including land ownership, power struggle and political affiliation to ruling parties. The violence claimed lives of hundreds of innocent civilians mostly women, children and elderly.

The village hosts a small number of local inhabitants estimated to be 1000. A rapid assessment carried out by international organizations in the region in collaboration with UN agencies in response to movements of the population called for immediate assistance.

However, a group of local and international relief organizations have also reported restriction in the movement of their staff in areas adjacent to Tajlei from both Unity and Southern Kordofan states. Many in the area say they have suffered procedural steps since the start of the year. The most common among these were delays allegedly conducted for search operations at check points.

A referendum on southern Sudan independence in due to be held in January and the oil-rich region of Abyei will also face a separate referendum to decide whether it wants to join the north or the south of Sudan.

(ST)