Mediators contain threat, disperse 4,000 gunmen in Darfur

A mediation committee mobilized to contain the conflict between two rival tribes in Central Darfur has announced that 4,000 gunmen who surrounded a town on Wednesday are starting to disperse. The committee, formed right after tensions began to rise in Umm Dukhun, comprises members of local communities and five representatives of each of the rival Salamat and Misseriya tribes. Youssef Ishaq Al Nour, Misseriya omda and head of the Shura of 36 tribes in the locality, confirmed to Radio Dabanga that armed fighters of both sides began departing Umm Dukhun at around 8:00pm local time. Tribes’ leaders swore an oath to abide by the reconciliation agreement and guaranteed they would transmit the word to their comrades, Al Nour said. He noted that “90 percent of the problems have been solved. The remaining 10 percent refer to troubles caused by the loss of properties and to small events caused by the agitation in Umm Dukhun”. Salamat Omda Hajj Al Doed also confirmed to Radio Dabanga his delegation sat down on Thursday with the Misseriya and agreed to reconcile and settle their differences. Al Doed ensured the whole mediation committee would recover missing properties and return them to their owners. In addition, they will work on restoring the social fabric, he said. Committee members called on all parties to “abide by the rule of law”, to promote peaceful coexistence and not to take measures on their own hands. They also called upon the government to collect weapons from militants saying that “heavy ammunition is the reason behind the problems in Darfur”. Umm Dukhun’s residents said tensions began to rise in the town on Wednesday morning after a member of the Misseriya tribe tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt.Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA- cropped)Related: 4.000 tribesmen surround Darfur town in robbery retaliation (3 April 2013)