Sudanese army deployed ‘to enforce peace in Jebel ‘Amer’

The government of North Darfur has announced that several hundred Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) troops have been moved into the Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality “to monitor the implementation of an agreement signed between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes last month”. Witnesses subsequently confirmed to Radio Dabanga that “a large army contingent of heavily armed vehicles arrived in the Jebel ‘Amer area on Monday”. Some army formations were reportedly deployed to villages that were burned in the inter-tribal violence the preceded the agreement. Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes fought violently earlier this year over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality, leaving at least 500 people dead. The UN estimates that more than 100,000 people were displaced. Tensions have repeatedly overflowed into renewed clashes over the months that have followed, with Abbala militants besieging Al Sareif city at one point, and disrupting the flow of supplies. The treaty to end the violence agreed to in El Fasher in late July stipulates that both tribes must completely withdraw from the Jebel ‘Amer mine and cede control to the government. File photo: Delegates from the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes at the signing of the treaty in El Fasher on 27 July (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Related: Darfur delegates ratify Reconciliation Agreement (27 July 2013)‘Historic moment’ as Abbala, Beni Halba sign treaty in North Darfur: Kibir (25 July 2013)