East Darfur Rizeigat, Ma’aliya agree on cessation of hostilities

The Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) on Tuesday announced that Rizeigat and Ma’aliya tribal leaders will sign a cessation of hostilities agreement in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, in the coming days. The step is part of the preparations for direct negotiations, aiming at a comprehensive and lasting reconciliation between the two warring tribes in East Darfur. On 16 August, at least 47 tribesmen were killed in fighting that broke out between Ma’aliya and Rizeigat in Um Rakuba after the theft of a camel, a horse, and two donkeys. Government troops were deployed as buffer forces, to no avail, as three days later fierce clashes erupted in the area of Um Rakuba in Abu Karinka locality, reportedly after an attack by Rizeigat on Ma’aliya citizens in the area. Hundreds of people were killed. Various clashes had already erupted in the area in July. Oil production The Sudanese Minister of Petrol, Mohamed Awad Makawi, announced that the Sufian oil field in East Darfur will start production soon. Oil production at East Darfur’s Zurga Um Hadida will be expanded. File photo: Signing of a peace treaty between Ma’aliya and Rizeigat in North Darfur, August 2013 (Hamid Abdulsalam/Unamid)  Related: ‘East Darfur tribes agree to a truce’: DRA (29 August 2014) East Darfur officials hold Sudan govt. responsible for tribal fighting (25 August 2014) Forces deployed in East Darfur to curb new tribal clashes (21 August 2014) ‘Hundreds’ die in Ma’aliya, Rizeigat fighting in East Darfur (20 August 2014)