More militia-tribe clashes in North Darfur’s Saraf Omra

The tense situation in Saraf Omra, North Darfur, exploded today as fierce clashes erupted between militias led by Musa Hilal and members of an unspecified tribe inside the town. A source told Radio Dabanga that after the Friday noon prayers, “dozens were killed or injured” during fights between Musa Hilal’s militia elements and men of a tribe he could not specify. “Seven neighbourhoods of Saraf Omra have been burned and damaged. The market is completely looted by the militias.” He confirmed that hundred of citizens fled to areas surrounding Saraf Omra, Fassi in Zalingei locality, and that others are wandering in the wilderness. Saraf Omra already witnessed clashes on Thursday, between Hilal’s militias and Gimir tribesmen. The source said these fights resulted in the deaths of two people, and the injuring of five others. Saraf Omra shut down Schools and government institutions have already remained closed and transportation in the locality has stopped since the deadly clash between Hilal’s militias and Tama tribe members in Saraf Omra on Monday. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga on Thursday that the militias have been present in the city since Wednesday evening. They claimed that Musa Hilal entered in a lengthy meeting with the native administrations of the Tama tribe on Thursday morning. On Monday, 11 people were killed and others wounded in a clash between the guards of the Nazir of the Tama tribe, Mohamed Shareef, and the militias in Saraf Omra’s Wadi district. One week ago, more than hundred Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira) and police forces stationed at Saraf Omra fled after receiving reports about Hilal’s militias moving in their direction. They were ambushed between Kabkabiya and Kutum on 28 February. File photo: Militiaman (archive Radio Dabanga) Related: 11 killed as Musa Hilal troops and Tama Nazir guards clash in North Darfur (3 March 2014) Abu Tira, police forces on the run killed in North Darfur (28 February 2014)