Al-Sunta, November 15 (Darfur24)
At least 31 people have been killed and several villages burned in renewed clashes between armed groups from the Rizeigat and Habbaniyah tribes in South Darfur, triggering fresh displacement, a tribal leader told Darfur24.
The fighting erupted on Saturday in the Abyad area of Al-Sunta locality, near the border with East Darfur, extending a conflict that began on November 8 in the Rams area over allegations of livestock theft. The earlier clashes left eight people dead.
The tribal leader, who preferred anonymity, said reinforcements from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had arrived to separate the fighting groups.
Several villages near Abyad were burned during the latest clashes, forcing residents to flee towards Al-Sunta town, the source added.
Witnesses told Darfur24 that armed fighters from both sides had been gathering in the area since Thursday, while local authorities and traditional leaders had yet to intervene to contain the tensions.
The latest violence is part of a recurring pattern of conflict between the two communities, often linked to livestock theft and land disputes, grazing areas and livestock routes.
The border areas between Al-Sunta in South Darfur and East Darfur have experienced repeated tribal clashes despite several peace agreements and ceasefire arrangements mediated by local traditional administrations.
