Farms destroyed, corpses left in the open after clashes in S. Darfur

Insecurity remains high in areas around Kass in South Darfur after inter-tribal fighting last week. Gunmen have destroyed farms and prevented burial of dead fighters, leaders of two different tribes said Sunday.

Omda Mansoor Koweer, a leader of the Ta’alba tribe in Kass, called on local government authorities in South Darfur State to intervene to halt destruction by Abbala (camel-raising tribesmen). In an interview Sunday, he claimed that Abbala tribesmen are destroying farms around the villages of Turgunj, Bowfali, Dibis, Dilaybah, Haraza, and Tubu Fatu in Kass Locality. The tribal leader also noted that a group of heavily armed Abbala expelled farmers and destroyed crops in the area of Shakil Kamal. He warned that farmers cannot practice their work in view of attacks by gunmen against them. He appealed to authorities to intervene to stop the Abbala marauders.

Last week Radio Dabanga received other reports of extensive fighting between two Arab tribes in the area around Kass, the Nuwayba Rizeigat and Misseriya. A tribal leader of the Misseriya, the omda Maki Yunis Al Jizuli, said Sunday that there were dozens of bodies still lying in the open in regions where the two tribes fought. After villagers fled from their homes, no one remained to bury the bodies of dead fighters. Omda Maki said that there were still bodies lying on the ground in villages including Al Gemeza, Babanusa, Al Jabaloya, Miramundi, and Juli. He explained that Land Cruisers driven by people wearing military uniform were patrolling in those areas and preventing residents from getting close to the corpses, or from returning to these villages.