‘Incidental’ Central Darfur tribal clashes ‘no threat to peace process’

Violent clashes that erupted between Salamat and Misseriya tribesmen on Monday have stopped, according to a local source. Despite a “surprise attack” on the Misseriya by the Salamat, leaders of the two tribes reaffirm their commitment to the peace process.Reporting from Umm Dukhun in Central Darfur, Omda Yousef Ishaaq Al Nour of the Misseriya told Radio Dabanga that the clashes that left dozens of dead and wounded on both sides, had ended by Tuesday.In the aftermath, 48 wounded have been transferred to Umm Dukhun hospital and 200 families fled to El Geneina, Umm Nuno, Nyala and Chad, fearing that clashes may break out again. Al Nour told Radio Dabanga that the situation is now calm in the locality.He explained that on Monday, while some Salamat attacked the Misseriya, he described the incident “an incidental violation which will not affect the peace process”.Al Nour underlined that “the Misseriya are committed to halting hostilities and to the peace process”. He attributed the failure of the reconciliation conference between the Salamat and Misseriya, which was scheduled to take place in the Central Darfur capital Zalingei on Monday, to “the difficulty faced by delegations to access Zalingei on time”.Al Nour appealed to both parties to uphold the peace, respect the cessation of hostilities agreement, and remain calm.Salamat chairman Mohamed Bashir Musa reiterated that his tribe is also committed to the agreement of cessation of hostilities and to the peace process.He said that a group of armed Misseriya were attacked by members of the Salamat tribe in Um-sory on Monday.“It was a surprise,” he told Radio Dabanga, “but this will not affect the peace process.” He also attributed the reasons for the failure of the conference to “the difficulty some members of the Salamat delegation have in travelling from Chadian territory to Zalingei”.He stressed the Salamat are ready to attend the conference as soon as the other delegations arrive, and echoed his Misseriya counterpart by appealing to all parties to remain calm and respect the cessation of hostilities.Tensions in Umm Dukhun began to rise after a member of the Misseriya tribe allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt. Hostilities erupted the next day on 4 April when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. Clashes have since spread north and to South Darfur, where the Al Taaysha tribe allegedly provided support to the Misseriya.The UNHCR has said that as result of the battles in South and Central Darfur 50,000 people sought refuge in Chad within a short period of time, terming it the “largest influx of refugees from Sudan into Chad since 2005”.File photo: Misseriya women listen to Radio DabangaRelated: New tribal clashes scuttle Central Darfur reconciliation hopes (27 May 2013)