Nyala, February 12 (Darfur24)
More than 17 people were killed and others injured, including members of the Rapid Support Forces, after a longstanding dispute escalated into armed clashes between two groups from the Awlad Ali clan, a branch of the Bani Halba tribe, in the town of Markandi, southwest of Nyala, South Darfur State, on Monday.
A local leader in South Darfur, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Darfur24 that the violence stemmed from an unresolved feud that resurfaced and developed into an armed confrontation. The clashes resulted in casualties among civilians and Rapid Support Forces members, including individuals identified locally as Al-Dawi and Mujahid Hussein.
The source said local administration leaders intervened to contain the fighting, while the injured were transported to health facilities in Nyala for treatment.
Darfur24 was unable to independently verify casualty figures through medical sources.
In response, the Bani Halba tribe’s Shura Council issued a statement expressing regret over the violence, confirming that members of the tribe were among the dead and injured.
The council called on residents, community leaders, and tribal elders to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. It urged respected figures within the tribe to address the dispute through customary reconciliation mechanisms and to close avenues that could reignite tensions among local communities.
Parts of the Darfur region continue to experience recurring tribal violence despite recent reconciliation efforts, including a peace conference last month between the Salamat and Bani Halba tribes following deadly clashes in 2023.
The incident comes against the backdrop of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese armed forces and allied groups on one side and the Rapid Support Forces on the other. The RSF controls much of the Darfur region, while the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, led by Abdul Wahid Muhammad Nur, maintains control over Jebel Marra and the town of Tawila.