Misseriya tribal fighting claims 200 victims: Hussein Bakir

Sectional fighting rages in borderland of Kordofan and Darfur A leading figure in the western region of South Kordofan and an official in the Ba’ath party, Hussein Elhaj Bakir, revealed that the number of casualties in the clashes that broke out between the Misseriya of Awlad Surur and Misseriya of Awlad Heiban has reached 200 as of yesterday. Bakir announced to Radio Dabanga that the number of victims from Awlad Heiban has reached 140 dead and the number from the side of Awlad Surur has reached 60. He said that the number of people who were wounded has not yet been determined but that Muglad hospital has received close to 37 wounded. He described the situation as calm after steps taken by the people of the region and heads of the civil administration.

The fighting broke out last week in the area of Fardus along a migration route. The area is a grazing area disputed between the Misseriya Humr and Misseriya Zurug.  The area also belongs to the Balila oilfield.

Speaking for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in South Kordofan, the deputy head Adam Karshom condemned the incident. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Adam appealed to all the people of the Misseriya tribe, especially the youth, to immediately move to the stop bloodshed between members of the same tribe. In the interview, Karshom accused the National Congress Party (NCP) of being behind the incident as part of its plan of ‘cleansing’ tribes which are against the NCP. He noted that the Misseriya had refused to join the war against SPLA-North in South Kordofan. Karshom also held the government authorities of Balila oil field responsible of the incident due to their improper distribution of petrol compensations to land owners in the region. He blamed also the state government and police for not carrying out any response and standing idle during the ‘Misseriya massacre’.