Tribal strife flares in Sudan’s West, South Kordofan

On Tuesday morning, tribal fighting erupted in Abu Zabad in West Kordofan. Native administration leaders from Tagali El Abbasiya in South Kordofan warn of a deterioration in the situation in Abu Kershola and surrounding areas.

Sources told Radio Dabanga from Abu Zabad town later on Tuesday that the clashes took place in Kadmat village. They said that an unknown number of people were killed and injured. Two of the wounded arrived at the Abu Zabad Rural Hospital for treatment.

The area of Abu Zabad, which is part of the Nuba Mountains, has been witnessing tribal tensions for some months, the sources said, amid “a complete absence of law enforcement forces”.

In the neighbourhood of Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan, a policeman was killed and six others were wounded on Tuesday morning.

A police convoy carrying a number of death row inmates was ambushed in the area of Keweik, 20 km north of Kadugli.

The convoy was on its to El Obeid Prison in North Kordofan, a police source told Radio Dabanga.

The gunmen opened fire at the vehicle, killing the driver, El Nour El Amin, and injuring six others.

Reports say that the attackers aimed to free those sentenced to death, but failed.

Abu Kershola

Native administration leaders from Tagali El Abbasiya in South Kordofan warned of a deterioration in the situation in Abu Kershola and surrounding areas if the authorities delay the implementation of demands submitted by the native administration on Friday.

The tribal leaders, appointed by the government as native administration leaders, gave the state authorities a 72-hour deadline on Friday, to investigate a number of attacks in the area.

Omda Mohamed Adam told Radio Dabanga that the deadline ended on Sunday without implementing the demands.

He said that the tribal leaders have played their role in calming the people who want to see justice, “but the authorities are still procrastinating in carrying out their duties and persecute the perpetrators”.

He accused the authorities in South Kordofan of “negligence”, and holds them “fully responsible for any consequences may occur if they do not take action”.

He underscored “the seriousness of the situation in the region as large groups of nomads are moving southwards for new pastures”.

The Abu Kershola Youth Initiative, led by Bashir Ali Hammad, said in a statement on Monday that “the social fabric in the region was shaken by conflicts of a tribal nature”.

The youth call for “the tightening of the Rule of Law, in light of the events that took place in the area more than a week ago”.