‘Government has tribalised Sudan’: Darfur Civil Society Platform

Members of the Darfur Civil Society Platform hold the Sudanese government accountable for the escalation of tribal conflicts in the region. Speakers at a workshop, organised by the Darfur Youth Commission, in cooperation with the parliamentarian Social Affairs Committee on Monday, pointed to the extension of tribal conflicts from Darfur to Kordofan and parts of White Nile state. “They warned that these conflicts will ultimately reach central Sudan”, chairman of the Darfur Civil Society Platform, Mohamed Eisa Aliyu, told Radio Dabanga. “The participants of the workshop, titled The Role of Civil Society in Reducing Tribal Conflicts, hold the Sudanese government responsible for the escalation of tribal clashes in Darfur and Kordofan. The Khartoum regime has tribalised the entire administrative and political system in the country. The creation of new states was even based on tribal criteria,” Aliyu explained. He said that the speakers warned the government of this dangerous development and the proliferation of arms in the country. “They urged the authorities to stop this tribal policy, and instead de-escalate the tribalisation in Sudan by not appointing certain tribesmen at certain positions.” “They said that if the government loses control over the spread of arms, some tribes may make use of aircrafts in the near future.” Dr Jalal El Digeir, Assistant to the President, also spoke at the workshop. He called for the abolishment of the system of elected governors in Darfur. El Digeir justified his proposal by saying that Sudan is not yet ready for elected governors. “The governors in Darfur are facing many tribal and partisan problems. No elected governor enjoys support of their constituents, because of the hate and envy amongst the various tribesmen.” File photo