Sudan’s NCP refuses to recognise recent tribal truce in North Darfur state

September 11, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The National Congress Party (NCP) leadership council in North Darfur state announced its rejection to a truce agreement signed this week between the Rezeigat and Bani Hussein tribes.

The pro-government Ashorooq TV said that North Darfur governor Osman Kibir chaired the NCP meeting which produced a statement afterwards saying that the pact was not sanctioned by the party and represents a move that steps over the NCP institutions.

The NCP vowed to in the statement to resist the accord through certain unspecified measures.

The agreement was signed by notorious tribal leader Musa Hilal from the Rezeigat and Mohamed Ismail Hamed from the Bani Hussein side.

In an audio tape attributed to Hilal last week, he is heard accusing Kibir of “killing” and triggering the tribal clashes between the Beni Hussein and Rezeigat.

Inter-tribal clashes erupted last January between members of the rival Arab Northern Rezeigat (Aballa) and Beni Hussein tribes, fighting for control of the region’s gold mines and claimed 839 lives and injured thousands others.

The UN estimates that some 150,000 people have been displaced following a spate of attacks by armed Aballa militias, elements that include the Janjaweed forces, which hit the headlines 10 years ago for brutal atrocities allegedly committed at the behest of the Sudanese government.

The two tribes agreed to cease all hostilities, form joint committees from three localities to handle joint issues, hold accountable account outlaws from any side and not harbor them.

They also agreed to returning all stolen agricultural lands and specified end February as end of season so that farmlands are not violated.

(ST)