Hamar, Ma’aliya tribes clash in West Kordofan, Sudan

At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured in the area of Um Deibun in El Udiya locality, where West Kordofan borders East Darfur. Hamar people clashed with Ma’aliya tribesmen on Thursday. The fights continued today on 6 December, but are contained by the native administration. Eyewitnesses from the area told Radio Dabanga that dozens of people were wounded and that the clash has caused displacement of tens of families. Others reported that a significant part of the village was burnt. Both sides used heavy weapons and machine guns. Mohamed Ahmed Ali Ajaballah, elder of the Ma’aliya tribe, told Radio Dabanga that the killing of a Ma’alia tribesman, who wanted to graze his livestock on farmsland of the Hamar, had caused the battle. He confirmed that the authorities and the native administration of the parties contained the problem. The governor of West Kordofan, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Khamis, reported that Sudanese army troops from Babanusa were sent to Um Deibun to intervene. File photo: West Kordofan (Radio Tamazuj)