Misseriya torch Salamat neighbourhood in Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur

29/05/2013 23:41

Misseriya militiamen have reportedly set many houses belonging to the Salamat tribe on fire in a neighbourhood east of Umm Dukhun town. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that the men began torching the houses at 1:00pm. “You could see columns of flame and smoke rising from homes” they said. The witnesses said that the houses that burned belong to members of the Salamat tribe, who left the area when clashes first erupted on 4 April. The sources also alleged that the men prevented civilians from fleeing to Chad. Violent clashes have left dozens dead and wounded on both sides in the area over the past month. As reported previously by Radio Dabanga, it is reliably estimated that more than 40 percent of the population of Umm Dukhun town and surrounding villages in Central Darfur have fled to Chad to escape the hostilities. Civilians from nearby Foro Burunga appealed to the warring Salamat and Misseriya, as well as the Gimr and Beni Halba tribes who have been clashing in fighting in South Darfur, “to listen to the voice of reason and to stop spilling the blood of the innocent”. “These tribal clashes lead to nothing but destruction; women are killed, children are orphaned, and it is an insult to the elders of Darfur.” The sources blame the Khartoum government for inciting the current hostilities.Tensions in Umm Dukhun began to rise after a member of the Misseriya tribe allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt. Hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. Clashes have since spread north and to South Darfur, where the Al Taaysha tribe allegedly provided support to the Misseriya. The UNHCR has 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”. Violent battles between Salamat and Misseriya broke out again in Umm Dukhun locality earlier this week. Nevertheless, leaders of the two tribes reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process. Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA)Related: ‘Sudanese government involvement’ alleged in latest South Darfur tribal clashes (28 May 2013)‘Incidental’ Central Darfur tribal clashes ‘no threat to peace process’ (28 May 2013)

Misseriya militiamen have reportedly set many houses belonging to the Salamat tribe on fire in a neighbourhood east of Umm Dukhun town.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that the men began torching the houses at 1:00pm. “You could see columns of flame and smoke rising from homes” they said.

The witnesses said that the houses that burned belong to members of the Salamat tribe, who left the area when clashes first erupted on 4 April. The sources also alleged that the men prevented civilians from fleeing to Chad.

Violent clashes have left dozens dead and wounded on both sides in the area over the past month. As reported previously by Radio Dabanga, it is reliably estimated that more than 40 percent of the population of Umm Dukhun town and surrounding villages in Central Darfur have fled to Chad to escape the hostilities.

Civilians from nearby Foro Burunga appealed to the warring Salamat and Misseriya, as well as the Gimr and Beni Halba tribes who have been clashing in fighting in South Darfur, “to listen to the voice of reason and to stop spilling the blood of the innocent”.

“These tribal clashes lead to nothing but destruction; women are killed, children are orphaned, and it is an insult to the elders of Darfur.” The sources blame the Khartoum government for inciting the current hostilities.

Tensions in Umm Dukhun began to rise after a member of the Misseriya tribe allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt. Hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. Clashes have since spread north and to South Darfur, where the Al Taaysha tribe allegedly provided support to the Misseriya.

The UNHCR has 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”. Violent battles between Salamat and Misseriya broke out again in Umm Dukhun locality earlier this week. Nevertheless, leaders of the two tribes reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process.

Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA)

Related:

‘Sudanese government involvement’ alleged in latest South Darfur tribal clashes (28 May 2013)

‘Incidental’ Central Darfur tribal clashes ‘no threat to peace process’ (28 May 2013)