Tribal clashes in Sudan’s south kill seven

More than a week of bloodshed last month in southern Sudan's Blue Nile state left at least 105 people dead and scores wounded, as rival groups fought in a complex conflict involving deep-seated grievances, control of land and battles for power. Blue Nile, a region awash with guns bordering South Sudan and Ethiopia, is still struggling to rebuild after decades of wider civil war between ethnic minority rebels complaining of marginalisation against government forces of hardline president Omar al-Bashir (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP)

Renewed tribal clashes in Sudan’s southern Blue Nile^[1] state have killed seven people, state media reported Friday, despite a ceasefire agreement between rival groups following deadly violence weeks ago. 

“The regrettable tribal clashes renewed on Thursday afternoon… without any clear reasons and despite sincere efforts by the government to stop hostilities,” the official SUNA news agency reported, quoting a statement by security services in Blue Nile state.

The clashes left seven dead and 23 others wounded, it said, adding that the violence was centred in East Ganis village and in and around the town of Roseires. 

Witnesses told AFP they had heard shooting and that houses had been burnt. 

“The situation is very bad now — fires and gunfire everywhere,” said Hussein Moussa, a resident of a village east of Roseires. 

In July, fighting in the region pitted Hausa tribes against rival communities including the Berta people, leaving at least 105 people killed and dozens wounded. 

The clashes at the time erupted after Hausa tribes requested the creation of a “civil authority”, which rival groups saw as a means to gain access to land. 

The violence displaced some 31,000 people, many of whom sought refuge in schools turned into displacement camps. 

ALSO READ: Death toll from Sudan ethnic clashes rises to 105^[2]

The clashes also triggered angry protests across Sudan, with the Hausa people demanding justice for those killed.

Other protests called for “unity” and an “end to tribalism” in the impoverished northeast African nation.

In late July, senior leaders from rival groups agreed to cease hostilities. 

The latest violence comes as Sudan reels from deepening political unrest and a spiralling economic crisis since last year’s military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. 

The military power grab upended a transition to civilian rule launched after the 2019 ouster of strongman Omar al-Bashir, who ruled for three decades. 

The country has since been rocked by near-weekly protests and a violent crackdown that has so far killed more than 100 people, according to pro-democracy medics.

In July, Burhan pledged in a televised address to step aside and make way for Sudanese factions to agree on a civilian government. 

References

1. ^{^} southern Blue Nile (en.wikipedia.org)
2. ^{^} Death toll from Sudan ethnic clashes rises to 105 (www.citizen.co.za)