Nairobi, September 26 (Darfur24)
The Emir of the Awlad Zeid clan, a branch of the Mahamid, Ahmed Khalil Sheet, has received invitations to be appointed Nazir of West Darfur State, a move opposed by the Native Administration and local authorities.
Sources told Darfur24 that the inauguration ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, faces opposition from the executive office of the Native Administration and local authorities.
The executive office has called for the appointment process to be suspended to allow further consultations among the components of the Native Administration.
More than 22 Native Administration leaders signed a decision opposing the process and called for consultation and consensus to prevent tensions among local communities.
In May, the West Darfur government suspended all appointments and designations within the Native Administration, including princes and chiefs, after some tribes organized ceremonies to appoint leaders without completing official procedures.
The Native Administration system in West Darfur is headed by a Sultan, followed by Farshas and Emirs, and then Umdas.
The proposed appointment is likely to generate further controversy, particularly as the Native Administration system recognizes tribal leaders rather than state-level political authorities.