Central Darfur Governor: Umm Dukhun ‘calm’

The Governor of Central Darfur assured on Friday that the situation in the Umm Dukhun locality, site of recent deadly clashes, is “calm”. South and Central Darfur governors, accompanied by a delegation from Khartoum, are visiting three regions in the states where violence has been rife.Governor Yousef Tibin affirmed that Misseriya and Salamat tribes in Central Darfur are willing to honour to the ceasefire agreement they signed on 11 April and head for the negotiation table. Tibin said his delegation is “listening to both Misseriya and Salamat sides” and is relying on local reports in order to organise a reconciliation conference in the near future.In addition to Tibin, the delegation comprises the Governor of South Darfur, Adam Mahmoud Jar Al Nabi, as well as a group from Khartoum including MPs. The committee is headed by General Adam Khamid Musa of the Council of State.Senior Salamat Nazir administrator Mohamed Al Bashir Musa told Radio Dabanga he welcomed the delegation’s visit to Central Darfur, confirming they are “listening to both sides”. Musa also confirmed that the Salamat are respecting the ceasefire agreement and are ready to enter negotiations with the Misseriya.According to the tribal leader, the two tribes are to present their views and suggestions to the visiting delegation, including a proposal date when the reconciliation conference should be held. “We appeal to the delegation to improve security in Umm Dukhun so that everybody feels safe and at peace.”The delegation’s first stop was the South Darfur capital Nyala. They met with the warring tribes of Tarjam X Fur; Gimr X Beni Halba, who signed a peace treaty on 3 May after resuming February’s clashes two weeks ago.Next, they will head to Rahad El Berdi in South Darfur, and attempt to curb the fighting between the Salamat and the Al Taaysha.Before spreading north and to South Darfur, tribal tensions began to rise on 3 April in Umm Dukhun when a Misseriya tribesman allegedly opened fire on Salamat man and tried to rob him. The man was not hurt, but hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men from both sides exchanged fire.An unsuccessful ceasefire treaty signed by leaders of the two warring tribes stipulated that the Salamat and Misseriya would hold a reconciliation conference on 30 April. Sources indicated that the Al Taaysha tribe is supporting the Misseriya against the Salamat in South Darfur.The UNHCR said that as result of the battles in South and Central Darfur 50,000 people sought refuge in Chad within a short period of time, terming it the “largest influx of refugees from Sudan into Chad since 2005”.Earlier this year, a dispute over land ownership between the tribes left eight dead (four members of each tribe) and four wounded in South Darfur. 750 families were displaced when six villages in the area of Edd Al Fursan were destroyed by fire as a result of the battles.Clashes between both tribes then resumed following a relatively stable period since February. Both sides accuse of each other of breaching a previously signed peace treaty.The UN said that 10,000 people have arrived at Kalma camp near Nyala fleeing clashes that erupted last between the Fur and Tarjam tribes in El Salam locality. Local reports state the families are living in “inhuman conditions”.Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA- cropped)Related:Darfur: Al Taaysha ‘merciless’ attacks continue, says Salamat leader (9 May 2013)3,392 families arrive at South Darfur camp (5 May 2013)Gimr and Beni Halba tribes sign treaty in South Darfur (3 May 2013)After 10,000 displaced Salamat-Misseriya sign treaty in Darfur (11 April 2013)