‘Central Darfur tribal clashes result of security gap’: Governor

The Governor of Central Darfur State has attributed the cause for the renewed clashes between the Salamat and Misseriya tribes in Um Dukhun to the withdrawal of the Intelligence and Security Service and the Central Reserve Forces from the region. Governor Dr Yusif Tibin acknowledged in an interview with the pro-government newspaper El Intibaha on Friday that “these conflict resolution forces have withdrawn too rashly from the region. This has created a huge security gap, and paved the way for those targeting the security of the region”. According to El Intibaha, Tibin accused Chadian Salamat tribesmen of entering the region through Kalma, near the Chadian-Sudanese border. “They participated in the clashes, after which they returned to Chad again.” He noted that the assassinated Salamat and Misseriya omdas were both members of the Reconciliation Committee of Central Darfur’s capital of Zalingei. On Tuesday Um Dukhun in Central Darfur turned into a battlefield, when fierce clashes broke out between Misseriya and Salamat tribesmen. Dozens were killed and injured. The fighting broke out after a Misseriya omda was murdered in Um Dukhun on Monday. In response, Misseriya killed a deputy omda of the Salamat on Tuesday morning. File photo: Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira) in Darfur Related:Central Darfur’s Um Dukhun ‘tense’ as tribesmen regroup (20 February 2014)Central Darfur town ‘a battlefield’ as Misseriya, Salamat clash (19 February 2014)Citizens returning to Um Dukhun, Central Darfur (20 January 2014)