Heiban, September 09 (Darfur24)
Civilians and members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) were killed and wounded in separate clashes in Heiban locality, South Kordofan, amid renewed tensions and communal disputes.
Sources in Heiban told Darfur24 that clashes began on Saturday, September 5, in Jakma following a dispute over a stolen motorcycle and continued on September 6 and 7 in Sarfaya and Aqur, leaving several people dead on both sides.
The clashes also resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, according to the sources.
The Supreme Council of the Hawazma said in a statement that several members of the Lira and Hawazma tribes were killed in the fighting. It said it was coordinating with regional leaders, local authorities and other relevant bodies to contain the situation, protect residents and prevent the violence from spreading to neighboring communities.
The council called for investigations into the incidents and warned against exploiting looting and retaliatory violence to fuel wider conflict between communities. It urged residents of Hawazma, Lira and neighboring areas to exercise restraint and refrain from mobilization, incitement, looting and retaliatory attacks.
Meanwhile, in Kauda, sources said several SPLM-North fighters and Atoro youths were killed on Monday, September 7, when clashes broke out near the SPLM-North-controlled city.
According to the sources, an SPLA force entered Kauda at around 4 p.m. and clashed with Atoro youths near the city entrance close to the airport, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The Atoro tribal media committee said the renewed fighting posed a direct threat to the ceasefire and peace initiative and put civilians at imminent risk. It called on the Presidential Council’s initiative mechanism and regional and international peace bodies to intervene urgently, ensure compliance with the ceasefire and protect civilians.
The clashes came despite a ceasefire initiative announced by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, which the SPLM-North had welcomed. The truce was short-lived, however, with both sides accusing each other of violations as tensions returned to Kauda and surrounding areas.
In a separate incident on Monday, sources said an armed force attacked the Mandi area, forcing displaced residents to flee after their property was confiscated. Atoro chief Koko Al-Daqir Damjala condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of the cessation of hostilities and an escalation of what he called tribal targeting.
The violence in Kauda and surrounding areas stems from longstanding disputes over tribal border demarcation that developed into armed clashes between SPLM-North forces and groups from the Atoro tribe in March.
Fighting intensified in June and July, when Atoro groups seized large parts of Kauda and expelled the movement’s administration. Clashes resumed in late July and early August, displacing residents and prompting reports of looting and arson targeting homes, property, and institutional facilities.