Casualties of Buram tribal clashes ‘more than 100’

The clashes between two tribes in Buram, South Darfur this week have left dozens of people dead or wounded, according to several witnesses in the area.

Most victims are reported to be women and children, witnesses informed Radio Dabanga, who reported that more than 100 people were killed or injured. Sporadic clashes continued on Wednesday after incidents of cattle theft sparked fighting between Salamat and Habbaniya tribesmen on Monday.

A “large number of people” have been displaced from the area, sources added. Yesterday saw the arrival of a delegation of the native administration leaders headed by the chairman of the South Darfur legislative council, Saleh Abdeljabbar. In Buram they met with leaders and notables of the Habbaniya and Salamat tribes separately.

Interviewed by the official Sudanese News Agency (Suna), Abdeljabbar demanded the extension of the prestige of the state, to stop the fighting and put the perpetrators to justice. His visit was meant to defuse the tensions. The tribes' leaders prayed for the reconciliation between the two sides.

Soldiers of the Sudanese army arrived in the beginning of the week to separate fighting tribesmen. The violence was sparked when at least 11 people were killed and 17 others wounded in a gunfight between cattle thieves and a search party at El Nadeef, not far from the town of Buram on April 30.