State of Emergency declared in East Darfur: Governor

The Governor of East Darfur state, Abdel Hamid Musa Kasha, has declared a State of Emergency in East Darfur, and extended the brief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the area. In a statement on Saturday, Governor Kasha said he has authorised regular SAF forces “to deter criminals and militiamen.” Tensions between the Rizeigat and Ma’alia were triggered in the state earlier this month by unresolved disputes concerning access to land resources. An estimated total of 209 people were killed and 305 were wounded in clashes. Unamid airlifted representatives of the tribes to El Taweisha, North Darfur, to participate in the signing of an agreement to cease hostilities in East Darfur. The Governor said that he had documentary evidence, in the form of minutes of meetings, that “elements of the tribes’ leaderships conspired to ensure the current situation”.He announced the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of Nazir Musa Jalis, cheiftain of the Birgit Tribe and head of the legislative council of East Darfur. Five senior members of each tribe will serve on the committee which will be charged to follow-up on the implementation of the cessation of hostilities resolution, to disperse the gatherings of combatants in the area, and to ensure the return to Ed Daein of those Ma’alia civil servants and executives who were dismissed from Ed Daein and Abu Karinka during the fighting. File photo: Governor of East Darfur Abdel Hamid Musa Kasha (SUNA) Related: Unamid confirms East Darfur airlifts (22 August 2013) East Darfur Ma’alia abductees released (21 August 2013)East Darfur militia demands ransom for 42 Ma’alia abductees (20 August 2013)Kidnap of Ma’alia group calls halt to East Darfur treaty (19 August 2013)