North Darfur mining to be halted until reconciliation conference

A North Darfur minister announced that any mining activity in Jebel ‘Amer is to be halted until after a reconciliation conference between parties who fought over its control in January.The summit will take place on 15 April in El Fasher. Thereafter, authorities will decide how to implement optimal administrative and security arrangements so that mining can resume.Armed conflicts that erupted in Jebel ‘Amer between Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes left some 510 people dead and the UN estimated that over 100.000 were displaced as a result. In line with a signed ceasefire agreement, the warring parties should completely refrain from exploring gold at the site due to security measures. However, North Darfur Urban Planning Minister Al Fateh Abdulaziz Abdulnabi said some people continue to work at the mine. The minister is also the head of a joint committee assigned to supervise the situation in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality, where the mine is located, following the conflict in January.He appealed to all miners to temporarily leave the site and take part in the upcoming “peaceful negotiations” in April. However, he warned, authorities will resort to “military measures” against those who refuse to leave. Meanwhile, the joint committee’s members are visiting localities surrounding Al Sareif Beni Hussein which were also affected by the violent clashes between Abbala and Beni Hussein tribesmen.   Khalid Fagiry Jubouri, deputy president of the committee and adviser to the North Darfur governor, told Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that one of the aims of the visits is to pave the way to tribal reconciliation prior to April’s conference. Jubouri said the committee has been divided into seven sections. Five are active in North Darfur and the other two are working in West and Central Darfur, which were also affected by the tribal clashes.Radio Dabanga file photoRelated: More than 500 dead in N. Darfur tribal conflict- Sudan lawmaker (26 February 2013)