Central Darfur Governor announces measures to avoid new inter-tribal clashes

The governor of Central Darfur has issued orders aimed at maintaining security and avoiding future inter-tribal clashes. Central Darfur State Governor Yousif Tibin issued a package of measures on 17 November in order to maintain security in the state and avoid new clashes between the Misseriya and Salamat. The measures forbid gatherings for the sake of war, the calling for war, or the targeting of residential areas, markets or roads. Anyone violating the governor’s orders may be subjected to a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of SDG100,000 ($17,500). A mechanism will be established to oversee the implementation of the peace treaty signed between the two tribes on 3 July this year. The mechanism will be formed by representatives of both tribes, the police, the security forces and the Sudanese army, in addition to the security committees of the localities. Tibin on Sunday morning visited the towns of Bindisi and Um Duhkun, heading a delegation of security committees from both localities and a delegation of Unamid, who facilitated the meetings. In Bindisi they met with Salamat leaders and in Um Dukhun with leaders of the Misseriya in Umm Duhkun. The governor has ordered the joint Chad-Sudan army troops stationed in Um Dukhun to maintain order at the border, covering a distance of 50km into Chad and Sudan. Both the Salamat and Misseriya leaders have expressed their satisfaction with the Governor’s initiative and stressed their desire for peace. Unamid facilitated the travel of the Central Darfur State governor and the State Security Committee, accompanied by a team of Unamid officials, to Um Dukhun on 17 November to mediate between the two tribes.  Unamid’s team led by the Central Darfur Head of Office noticed that although the area was calm, tension was still perceptible in Um Dukhun. There was heavy presence of troops of the Sudan Armed Forces, as well as Chad-Sudan joint border patrol teams throughout the town.  The Unamid team also met with representatives from international NGOs and the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission operating in the area who confirmed that the security situation has improved since 14 November. The INGOs decided to stay on to carry out their activities instead of evacuating as previously requested. They are also providing assistance to the households affected by the clashes. File photo Related:Salamat-Chadian army clash in Central Darfur (15 November 2013)Dozens slain in renewed Misseriya-Salamat clashes in Central Darfur (14 November 2013)Sudanese and Chadian troops in Central Darfur after Misseriya-Salamat clashes (13 November 2013)