Ma’alia officials quit East Darfur institutions amid tribal attacks
September 20, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Eight officials in the government of East Darfur state and twelve members of state legislative assembly resigned from their positions to protest the continuous attacks by Rizeigat gunmen without prompt action from the state and national governments to stop it.
Umda Abu al-Hassan Moahmoud al-Tom, the representative of Ma’alia paramount chief, said on Saturday that all the members of his tribe participating in the institutions of East Darfur state handed over their resignation letters to the tribe leader Mohamed Ahmed al-Safi.
“We decided to boycott East Darfur state politically and administratively,” al-Tom said adding they are resolved to disengage from the Rizeigat dominated institutions, reaffirming that all the Ma’alia officials are committed to this decision.
Al-Tom further said they formed a committee to officially deliver the resignation letters to the competent authorities.
Last August, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that 200 Ma’alya and 123 Rizeigat tribesmen were killed in clashes which took place in the Umm Rakubah area in East Darfur’ Abu Karinka locality.
Clashes between the two tribes intensified in recent years following oil discovery in Ma’alia areas. But the tribal fighting is also related to disputes over pasturage and water sources.
A governor adviser, Hamid Mohamdi Bashar, who is one of the resigned officials, proposed three options to settle this conflict: the first le create a new state including the oil fields, annexing their land to North Darfur state or create an autonomous administration with in East Darfur state similar to the transitional administration of the disputed Abyei area.
The Ma’alia represent 40% of East Darfur population and control 45% of its superficies. The centre of Rizeigat territory is the state capital El Daein town, while the Ma’alia centre is in Adila, which borders North Darfur and South Kordofan states.
Sudanese government launched several reconciliation conferences to end the conflict between the two pastoral tribes. Last July, the vice president attempted to mediate between the two parties but the Ma’alia rejected his efforts because he belongs to the Rizeigat.
The Ma’alia accuse the government of supporting their foes because many of them are involved in the paramilitary forces known as Janjaweed militias used to fight rebel groups. But Khartoum and the tribal leaders deny the charges saying the attacks are carried by uncontrolled gunmen.
(ST)