Misseriya and Salamat leaders condemn Central Darfur clashes

Two days of fighting between Misseriya and Salamat tribesmen in Central Darfur has reportedly left dozens dead and injured. Farms, houses and farmlands burned down, and hundreds of people were displaced. Although each party blames the other for the breach of the peace agreement signed on 3 July, both parties stressed they will not allow the agreement to collapse. Each tribe gave a different account about the reasons for the breach of the peace agreement. Abdallah Mohamed Ajeeb, the Spokesperson for the Salamat told Radio Dabanga that “these absurd and meaningless clashes” of the last two days in Mukjar were able to break out because the state authorities have not set up the agreed reconciliation mechanisms so far. The Reconciliation Committee formed for this purpose spent 30 days in Um Dukhun town without visiting the two parties in the field. Another reason, according to Ajeeb, is the bias of the Um Dukhun locality commissioner towards the Misseriya. According to Omda Yusif Ishag El Nur, the Spokesperson for the Misseriya, the clashes broke out due to the inability of the Salamat to abide by the peace agreement. He holds their leaders responsible for “all the ambushes, assaults, robbery, and other crimes they perpetrated since last Ramadan”. He also blamed the Salamat for not visiting the Commission in Um Dukhun. The Omda urged the Reconciliation Committee to continue; the Salamat to dismantle their camps and abide by all items included in the peace document. El Nur appealed to both sides to “stop this useless war and return to peace”. File photo Related: Salamat torch Misseriya settlements near Mukjar, Central Darfur (30 October 2013)Misseriya, Salamat tribes clash at Bindisi market, Central Darfur (24 October 2013)Central Darfuris fleeing anticipated clashes between Misseriya and Salamat (30 September  2013)