East Darfur authorises arrests of ‘tribal clash agitators’

The Governor of East Darfur has announced granting full authorisation to the forces that are deployed to arrest “outlaws and agitators” who were involved in the tribal clashes between Rizeigat and Ma’aliya in Abu Karinka on 11 May. Sudan’s ruling party has planned the voluntarily disarmament of the two tribes.

Colonel El Tayeb Abdelkarim Ahmed said that there is a political and security plan that will be implemented on the ground soon. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, he described the plan as “capable of preventing frictions, deterring any lawlessness and law breakers, providing an opportunity for reconciliation, repairing the social fabric and achieving security and stability in the State”.

On the other hand, the governor announced that two convoys carrying relief items from Khartoum are on their way to the people who were affected by the tribal clashes in East Darfur State. He revealed that the first convoy was prepared by the Zakat Chamber on Tuesday and carries food items, blankets and tents.

Abdelkarim Ahmed added that the dead bodies following the fighting in Abu Karinka were transported and buried. At least 100 tribesmen were reportedly killed. The fighting started north of Abu Karinka and moved to the town's northern neighbourhoods. A witness said that Rizeigat fighters fired missiles onto houses.

Wounded people, the governor said, were brought to Khartoum in order to receive treatment.

NCP plans disarmament

Sudan’s ruling party, the National Congress Party, announced the implementation of an emergency plan on Tuesday to address the Rizeigat and Ma’aliya clashes. Mustafa Osman Ismail, the head of the political sector of the party, revealed that the plan includes the voluntarily disarmament of the two tribes, the establishment of decisive courts to prosecute the agitators of the conflict, and to find radical solutions for issues relating to land tenure and disarmament of all weapons of Darfur on a voluntary basis.