Sudan forms commission to investigate deadly clashes between Ma’alia & Rezeigat tribes
May 14, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese justice ministry established a commission of inquiry to investigate this week’s events in East Darfur between the Ma’alia and Rezeigat tribes which left hundreds dead or injured.
The committee is chaired by senior adviser Alaa al-Din Ahmed and joined by representatives from the ministries of interior, justice and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).
Justice minister Mohamed Bushara Dousa said the commission has a mandate to determine the culprits and losses after thorough investigations with witnesses and stakeholders.
The minister pointed the government resorted to this legal procedure after the failure of the past attempts to resolve the conflict through traditional reconciliation conference.
But after the recent developments and huge human causalities, the government decided “to impose the authority of the state through the strict application of the law”, he stressed.
He added that the panel has the power to apprehend anyone implicated in the clashes regardless of their status.
Yesterday a Ma’alia tribal leader demanded an investigation into officials involved namely second vice-president Hassabo Mohammed Abdel-Rahman adding that the Rezeigat received support from the Sudanese treasury which he said warrants an audit.
In a related issue, a local minister in East Darfur from the Ma’alia tribe survived an assassination attempt by one of his relatives in Ab-Karanka area during a tour with a delegation from Khartoum.
The minister named Osman Gism has angered his tribe for joining the local government while the dispute with the Rezeigat was still flaring and for signing a peace document despite rejection by Ma’alia.
Gism was evacuated to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
On Tuesday, the Sudanese first vice-president Bakri Hassan Saleh held an emergency meeting today with the participation of the defence and interior ministers along with intelligence director to discuss the situation in East Darfur.
A commission of inquiry comprised of security and military figures was dispatched to East Darfur state capital of Ed-Daein where they held a lengthy meeting with the state security committee to discuss ways to remedy the situation.
Sudan’s foreign Minister Ali Karti told reporters this week that the fighting represents a major security flaw and undermines the narrative about the restoration of security in Darfur.
(ST)