Tribal tension rising in North Darfur, relative calm in Central Darfur

Tension returned between the Beni Hussein and Abbala tribes in North Darfur on Saturday. Both parties have been gathering huge crowds of fighters in El Sareif Beni Hussein and Saraf Umra localities. Roads are closed in the localities since Saturday. Fighting started after five children were killed during an attack by Abbala on two Beni Hussein villages in the area of Khideira, 30 km west of El Sareif town, at 8am on Saturday. The eldest was 15 years-old, multiple sources told Radio Dabanga. Clashes erupted again in Khideira on Monday, but no casualties were reported. “Combatants of both tribes appeared to be ready to fight again on Tuesday, but nothing happened”, a resident of Khideira said. He appealed to both tribes to listen to the voice of reason and lay down their arms, “so that the roads can be opened again”. Salamat-Misseriya In Central Darfur the state of emergency was announced for the localities of Zalingei, Um Dukhun, Bindisi, Mukjar, and Wadi Salih on Tuesday, in an attempt to control the tension between Salamat and Misseriya tribesmen. The Security Committee of the State, led by Governor Jaafar Abdel Hakam, on Monday had already ordered the arrest of a number of leaders of both tribes, after the eruption of clashes in Um Dukhun locality between Thursday and Sunday that caused the killing and wounding of more than 130 people..   Army troops entered the region on Monday in order to contain the fighting. At Um Dukhun airport, a military aircraft is on stand-by. File photo Related:Sudan’s army to deter tribal clashes in Central Darfur (23 June 2014) More than 100 dead and wounded in Central Darfur tribal strife (22 June 2014) New ‘explosive’ Salamat-Misseriya tension in Central Darfur (16 June 2014)