Clashes between armed groups in North Darfur capital

Fighting erupted in El Fasher city on Monday evening, residents reported, and resumed on Tuesday. A number of people have reportedly been killed. A resident reported that dozens of casualties have been transferred to the hospital. Radio Dabanga could not yet independently varify the number of dead. A medical source told Agence France-Presse that four dead were brought to the hospital. Three were ‘soldiers’, but it remains unclear up to this point from which force. The other victim was a woman. The fighting ceased in the night, but resumed on Tuesday at about 4am in Hai Jebel neighbourhood, in the eastern part of El Fasher. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have surrounded the areas in Hai Jebel where Border Guards, many of them being former Janjaweed, are living. According to residents, the militias have been involved in several raids and armed robberies in the city. The spokesman for Musa Hilal commented that his militias are not residing in Hai Jebel, and are not involved in the recent fighting. Musa Hilal is leading a large Arab militia force, which attacked North Darfur’s Saraf Umra in March. Thousands of civilians were displaced.File photo: El Fasher, North Darfur (archive)Related: Rebels claim attack on military convoy in North Darfur (19 May 2014) Former Darfur rebel kills two near El Fasher (9 May 2014) Large militia contingent in Kabkabiya, North Darfur; policeman killed (7 May 2014)Khartoum delegation to negotiate with Darfur Janjaweed leader (17 March 2014)