‘Gold tax to recompense 839 Abbala-Beni Hussein dead’: North Darfur Minister

22/08/2013 22:34

The government of North Darfur has stated that the fighting between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes during the first half of 2013 “left 839 dead and large numbers of wounded and affected by displacement,” state Minister of Finance Abu Daoud Suleiman has told Radio Dabanga. The two tribes fought violently earlier this year over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality. The violence ended with a treaty signed following a reconciliation conference between the omdas from the tribes and a tribal mediation committee in the state capital, El Fasher, at the end of July. One of the terms of the treaty is that control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mining area will pass to the government. Minister Suleiman revealed plans surrounding the Jebel ‘Amer area, remarking that more than 25 mining locations now fall within his mandate. “The Jebel ‘Amer mine alone is staffed by more than 100,000 miners, with participation of foreign workers from more than 11 countries,” he said. Minister Suleiman said he intends to levy a revenue fee on the gold. “The proceeds of the fee will be allocated 65 per cent to pay blood money and for losses, and 25 per cent will be for the benefit of Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality.” The minister also pointed out that “after a final calculation by the special committee, both tribes have agreed to drop their original claim for losses and damages by 35 per cent”. The Government of North Darfur initially set the ‘blood money’ for each fatal victim at SDG30,000 ($6,800). File photo: First Vice President of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha (pinstripe jacket) and Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Chairman Dr Tijani Sese (blue shirt) preside over the signing of the historic Reconciliation Agreement between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes in El Fasher on 27 July 2013. (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Darfur delegates ratify Reconciliation Agreement (27 July 2013) ‘Historic moment’ as Abbala, Beni Hussein sign treaty in North Darfur: Kibir (25 July 2013)

The government of North Darfur has stated that the fighting between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes during the first half of 2013 “left 839 dead and large numbers of wounded and affected by displacement,” state Minister of Finance Abu Daoud Suleiman has told Radio Dabanga.

The two tribes fought violently earlier this year over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality. The violence ended with a treaty signed following a reconciliation conference between the omdas from the tribes and a tribal mediation committee in the state capital, El Fasher, at the end of July.

One of the terms of the treaty is that control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mining area will pass to the government.

Minister Suleiman revealed plans surrounding the Jebel ‘Amer area, remarking that more than 25 mining locations now fall within his mandate. “The Jebel ‘Amer mine alone is staffed by more than 100,000 miners, with participation of foreign workers from more than 11 countries,” he said.

Minister Suleiman said he intends to levy a revenue fee on the gold. “The proceeds of the fee will be allocated 65 per cent to pay blood money and for losses, and 25 per cent will be for the benefit of Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality.”

The minister also pointed out that “after a final calculation by the special committee, both tribes have agreed to drop their original claim for losses and damages by 35 per cent”.

The Government of North Darfur initially set the ‘blood money’ for each fatal victim at SDG30,000 ($6,800).

File photo: First Vice President of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha (pinstripe jacket) and Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Chairman Dr Tijani Sese (blue shirt) preside over the signing of the historic Reconciliation Agreement between the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes in El Fasher on 27 July 2013. (Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Related:

Darfur delegates ratify Reconciliation Agreement (27 July 2013)

‘Historic moment’ as Abbala, Beni Hussein sign treaty in North Darfur: Kibir (25 July 2013)