Nyala, July 04 (Darfur24)
Fighting between members of the Bani Halba and Salamat tribes resumed in South Darfur State on Thursday, leaving at least two people dead and several others injured, just two weeks after the two communities signed a final peace agreement.
A tribal leader in South Darfur, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Darfur24 that the violence erupted after a dispute between two individuals quickly escalated into armed clashes involving members of both tribes.
He said two people were killed and another injured before tribal leaders and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intervened to contain the fighting.
Another local source said the clashes took place in the town of Al-Hujairat, west of the Dambar area, and resulted in casualties on both sides.
According to the source, the violence began when one group searching for missing cattle was attacked by members of the rival tribe. Two men traveling on a motorcycle were targeted in the initial attack, killing one instantly and seriously wounding the other, who was later evacuated by RSF personnel for treatment. A second person was later killed and another injured as the clashes spread.
The conflict between the Bani Halba and Salamat tribes has flared repeatedly in recent years. Major fighting in August 2023 left hundreds dead or injured before the two sides reached a local peace agreement in June 2024. However, violence resumed in late May this year, leaving dozens dead or wounded, burning several villages and displacing large numbers of residents.
A peace conference held in Nyala on June 22 under the auspices of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo reaffirmed the 2024 Mukjar peace agreement and concluded with the signing of what was described as a final reconciliation accord.
The agreement called for roads and shared markets in the affected areas to reopen within 15 days, the voluntary return of displaced residents within 45 days, an end to hate speech and incitement on social media, and a ban on carrying weapons in towns and markets.
It also called for the enforcement of the rule of law, the arrest of those responsible for violations, the dispersal of armed gatherings, and the establishment of a joint mechanism to oversee implementation of the agreement. Under the accord, members of the Salamat tribe residing in Dar Bani Halba remain under the administrative authority of the Bani Halba leadership.