Warring Central Darfur tribes ‘poised to sign treaty’

A Reconciliation Committee aimed at ending the ongoing cycle of violence between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes in Central Darfur is finalising the wording of a peace agreement after weeks of negotiations.Sources close to the negotiations in Zalingei, the state capital, told Radio Dabanga that after listening to all sides and studying the problem from various dimensions, they expect the signing of the treaty to occur within 48 hours. “However, in the event there have been new developments on the ground, or a hardening of attitudes to concessions then the treaty may be delayed.” The Salamat delegation, after the intervention of the Reconciliation Commission and the popular civil committee agreed to reduce their compensation claim from SDG13 million ($3 million) to SDG11 million ($2.5 million). The Misseriya losses are still estimated at SDG8 million ($1.8 million). At time of posting, everything was going well, and reports are that “they were about to reach a conclusion”. The farming community appealed to the parties to sign the treaty so that they can make use of the autumn season. On a related development, the Humanitarian Aid Commission HAC) announced that more than 1,500 people from the Salamat tribe fled their homes in the areas of Irikom, Trej, Loga, Abini, Karti, and Bagoli in Central Darfur’s Zalingei locality. They tooke refuge in the Kadangara area, approximately 2km southwest of Zalingei town, and are in need of humanitarian  assistance, HAC said. The people fled their homes following fighting with the Misseriya in Irikom village on 17 June, when three people were reported killed and four were injured, according to displaced people interviewed. The NGO International Medical Corps (IMC) evacuated six national staff who were operating a clinic in the area. According to Unamid, the situation is still tense and the village is almost deserted. Tensions between the Salamat and Misseriya originally erupted in Umm Dukhun on 4 April, when a member of the Misseriya tribe allegedly tried to rob a Salamat man, who was not hurt. Hostilities broke out the next day when 4,000 men from opposing sides began battling each other. Clashes then spread north and to South Darfur. The UNHCR said that more than 50,000 people fled to Chad as a result. File photo: Albert González Farran – UNAMIDRelated:A ‘quiet’ day in Central Darfur following tribal clashes (26 June 2013) Renewed Misseriya – Salamat violence in Central and South Darfur (18 June 2013)‘At least 100 dead, dozens injured’ as Salamat and Misseriya clash again in Central Darfur (11 June 2013)Misseriya and Salamat peace parley begins in Zalingei, Central Darfur (3 May 2013)