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Sudan Tribune

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Death toll from South Darfur tribal clashes continues to rise

March 25, 2015 (NYALA) – The number of victims from last Sunday’s deadly tribal clashes between the Falata and Salamat tribes in South Darfur has risen to 37, with dozens of others wounded.

A Sudanese woman sits with her two children under a mosquitor bednet at the Draij camp outside South Darfur capital Nyala (Photo: UNICEF/Simonsen)
A Sudanese woman sits with her two children under a mosquitor bednet at the Draij camp outside South Darfur capital Nyala (Photo: UNICEF/Simonsen)
The clashes erupted in several areas of the restive region, leaving 21 people dead and 45 others injured from the Falata, while 16 Salamat tribesmen were killed and 25 others wounded after fighting broke out amid accusations of cattle theft.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that dozens of wounded from the Falata were taken to Tulus hospital, while six others were transferred to Nyala hospital in a serious condition. The wounded from the Salamt were taken to Buram hospital.

The state government has sent military reinforcements to contain the situation and prevent further clashes following the rallying of hundreds of tribesmen from both sides.

Tribal fighting has intensified in four of Darfur’s five states during the past two years leading to thousands of deaths and injuries and forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.

Tribal clashes are usually triggered by land disputes, pasture rights and fighting over water resources. More than 7,000 people were killed in those clashes since 2007.

The first tribal conflict, since the eruption of the conflict in Darfur in 2003, took place between the Torjum and Rezeigat Abballa in 2007 in the locality of Kass following accusations that the latter’s trespassed into the Torjum farms.

The conflict between the two tribes continued for more than three years leading to the death of 700 people, according to a report issued by the South Darfur state’s tribal reconciliation support commission.

The Sa’ada, Ta’alba and Beni Mansur tribes joined the conflict which continued until 2010 in support of the Torjum against the Rezeigat.

In 2011, clashes broke out between the Falata and the Habaniya due to cows theft and the Salamat , who is currently fighting against the Falata, fought alongside the latter against the Habaniya.

The conflict between the Falata and the Habaniya ended in January 2015 but the alliance of the Salamat and the Falata did not last long and intermittent clashes between the two tribes continue to take place.

In 2013, the Ta’aisha and Misseriya tribes clashed with the Salamat in the locality of Rihaid al-Birdi and Ab Jaradil area in west Darfur leading to displacement of thousands of Salamat people who reside with the Ta’aisha in their stronghold.

In 2014, deadly clashes erupted between the Gimir and Beni Halba tribes in a village near Edd al-Fursan, about 100 kms southwest of the South Darfur state capital of Nyala leading to the death of more than 900 people and wounding of hundreds others.

Thousands of people have been displaced from areas of Kateela, Haraza and Um Ketaina due to land dispute before the two sides reached a reconciliation agreement last December.

The conflict between the Rezeigat and the Ma’alia tribes in East Darfur state is considered one of the longest deadly tribal clashes in the region.

Both the Rezeigat and the Ma’alia are pastoralist tribes, based in East Darfur. The centre of Rezeigat territory is in El Daein town, while the Ma’alia centre is in Adila, the second largest town after El-Daein.

Last August, 200 Ma’alia and 123 Rezeigat tribesmen were killed in clashes which took place in the Umm Rakubah area in East Darfur’ Abu Karinka locality.

Armed clashes between the two tribes in 2013 killed over 149 people and forced an estimated 51,000 people to flee their homes and seek shelter in Adila, Abu Karinka and Ed-Daein localities.

Last month, the reconciliation conference between the tribes, which was held under the auspices of Sudan’s 1st VP, Bakri Hassan Salih in the locality of Merowe in the Northern state, stalled over the right of land ownership known as Hakura (traditional land grant).

The large number of victims in the tribal clashes is attributed to the use of military machineries and heavy weaponry by warring tribes due to arms proliferation in the region.

(ST)

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