Sudanese troops deployed between Darfur and W. Kordofan to prevent tribal clashes

May 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Military troops in West Kordofan and East Darfur states have been deployed to secure the dividing line between areas of Hamar and Ma’alia tribes following renewed fighting between the two ethnic groups.

MPs of the two sides in the Sudanese national assembly developed a joint mechanism in preparation for the reconciliation conference which will be held on 12 in West Kordofan state capital of Al-Fula.

The commissioner of al-Odaya county, Adam Aqidat, underscored on Sunday the stability of the situation following the dispersing of tribal groupings, pointing to the deployment of the military in areas of friction and determining the dividing line between areas of the two tribes.

He disclosed ongoing arrangements to hold the reconciliation conference next month, noting that the conference will set clear options to resolve the conflict and compensate those affected since last December up till Saturday night.

MP Nour al-Dayem al-Bushra, from the Ma’alia asserted formation of a joint mechanism from the MPs of both tribes, saying it held a series of meetings.

He also emphasized that the situation in the area is calm, saying that small incidents were contained besides deploying the military in order to promote security and develop a buffer zone to prevent renewal of clashes.

At least 50 people were killed and wounded in clashes between Ma’alia and Hamar tribesmen in East Darfur and West Kordofan last April.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) , some of the 38,000 displaced people in West Kordofan have fled recent fighting between the Hamar and Ma’alia tribes in North and East Darfur in March and April.

Tribal fighting has become the major source of insecurity in Darfur since the beginning of last year, forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.

Last year, Sudan’s president, Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, warned against tribal strife in some areas of the country, noting the country is facing challenges that need cooperation of all its people.

“The tribal conflicts in a number of Sudan’s areas constitute the biggest threat to the country,” Bashir said when addressing a meeting of the Shura (consultative) Council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Different officials in Darfur including the head of the regional authority, Tijani El-Sissi, also said that tribal violence is among the biggest threats to ongoing efforts to implement a peace document signed by two former rebel groups in the region.

(ST)