Kutum, El-Waha peaceful coexistence forum to be launched

A week-long forum for peaceful coexistence focused on the localities of El-Waha and Kutum, North Darfur, will be launched in the state’s capital next Wednesday, 2 January. According to reports, 100 leaders of each locality will likely attend the event in El-Fasher, Radio Dabanga has learned. Participants are expected to provide decisions and recommendations about issues as security, economy, development and executive and administrative matters, which will be raised to state authorities. Tension The two main accepted reasons for the tension between Kutum and El-Waha are the assassination of El-Waha’s commissioner on 1 August and the assassination attempt of Kutum’s commissioner on 4 September. The first incident allegedly led to looting and violence in Kutum and in the Kassab and Fatta Barno camps. The second supposedly led to the killings of policemen, of border guards and to the burning of the police station in Kutum. Due to the escalation of violence in the area, the Governor of North Darfur Osman Mohamed Yusuf Kibir, announced a state of emergency in the state. Both Kutum and El-Waha localities share one capital: the town of Kutum.Related:Peaceful coexistence forum to be held in El Fasher (30 December 2012)UNAMID facilitates Kutum-El-Waha reconciliation (15 November 2012)