May 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s interior minister Ismat Abdel-Rahman said he discussed with the first vice-president, Bakri Hassan Salih on Sunday a strategy to bring the tribal fighting in East Darfur state to an end.

Bakri Hassan Saleh (SUNA)

Deadly clashes took place last week between the Ma’alia and Rezeigat tribes in the locality of Abu Karinka leaving hundreds either dead or injured from both sides.

Salih was briefed Sunday by Abdel-Rahman, minister of justice Mohamed Bushara Dousa and representatives from the Sudanese army and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on the situation in the area following their visit last week.

Abdel-Rahman said in press statements following the meeting with the vice-president that they discussed the state’s strategy to end the security chaos caused by the clashes between the two tribes last week.

He pointed to the need for deploying troops to contain the situation in the area in order to allow the security and judicial bodies to carry out their duties, stressing that enough military, police and security forces have been sent to restore security in the area.

Dousa, for his part, underscored the need to impose authority of the state, saying they have clear vision for achieving that objective.

He pointed that judicial and security organs have strong presence on the ground, saying they are working in harmony to achieve justice and apprehend all those involved in the deadly events.

The justice minister further warned that judicial and security organs would arrest anyone involved in the killing, saying there will be no impunity for any person.

The speaker of the Ma’alia Shura Council Mardas Guma’a on Wednesday pointed fingers at high-level officials in the Sudanese government and held them responsible for deadly clashes between his tribe and the Rezeigat.

Sudan’s president Omer Hassan al-Bashir told a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Friday that the regular forces have taken the necessary measures to halt tribal fighting in east Darfur.

The violence which erupted this week is latest in a series of conflicts that occurred over the years between the two tribes in a dispute over land.

Numerous reconciliation conferences and mediation efforts have failed to end the long-standing feud especially after reports that the disputed land contained oil.

Last August, 200 Ma’alia and 123 Rezeigat tribesmen were killed in clashes which took place in the Umm Rakubah area in East Darfur’ Abu Karinka locality.

Over 149 people were killed and 120,000 civilians displaced by armed clashes between the two tribes which broke out in early August 2013.

(ST)