20 killed in fresh tribal clashes in South Darfur state
February 16, 2016 (NYALA) – Twenty people have been killed and twenty five others injured in violent clashes between Falata and Salamt tribes Sunday in Al-Nadheef area in the locality of Buram, South Darfur state.
Clashes erupted Sunday evening as a group of the Falata tribesmen were ambushed while following cattle which was thought to have been stolen by Salamat leading to death of 20 people and injuring 25 others.
In a statement to Sudan Tribune Monday, the paramount chief of the Falata tribe Youssef al-Samani demanded the government of South Darfur state to urgently establish an investigation commission to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend the perpetrators to prevent further clashes.
He warned that security conditions in the area would likely spin out of control because the government didn’t implement the outcome and recommendations of the previous reconciliation conference between the two sides.
He said the reconciliation conference recommended the deployment of troops to separate between the two tribes and impose the state authority besides apprehending the criminals, pointing however the government didn’t implement the recommendation.
Al-Samani called for providing the local administration with means of transportation, policemen and popular courts in order to carry out its duties in maintaining security and stability among the various tribes.
He urged the government to take serious measures to end the tribal conflicts, saying the state has become a theatre for theft and looting crimes which usually ignite tribal conflicts.
The paramount chief further said the local administration is no longer capable of curbing the lawlessness situation.
Clashes between Salamat and Falata erupted in March 2015 following theft of cows in Rajaj area. At the time 67 people were killed. Also, seven people were killed in renewed clashes between the two tribes in August.
The central government admitted the failure of traditional reconciliation approach and decided stop these bloody tribal conflicts by bringing to justice the perpetrators of the attacks and through the massive deployment of troops.
Last September, a reconciliation conference was held to end the conflict between the two tribes which claimed the lives of hundreds of people.
It is worth mentioning that the conflict between Falata and Salamat has forced thousands of people to flee following the burning of their villages.
(ST)