Al-Daein, September 16 (Darfur24)
Three people were killed inside the Naam border market in West Kordofan on Tuesday, prompting a halt in commercial activity amid heavy gunfire and growing security concerns, according to local sources.
Sources told Darfur24 that two of the victims were stabbed to death, while the third was shot. Relatives of the victims subsequently opened fire inside the market, triggering chaos and forcing traders to close their shops, the sources said.
A trader who requested anonymity said armed clashes broke out between members of the Misseriya tribe and a group of Dinka people, with both sides exchanging heavy fire using Dushka machine guns.
The disruption has affected the movement of goods and fuel destined for parts of Darfur and Kordofan. Local sources said gasoline prices in parts of East Darfur rose sharply, with a gallon reaching 4.6 million Sudanese pounds on Tuesday, up from 2.8 million pounds the previous day.
Naam is an important commercial and humanitarian outlet for areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur and Kordofan. Goods, fuel and medicines from South Sudan pass through the market to reach communities in western Sudan.
The market is located in the Line 10 area, about 15 kilometers north of Abyei and south of Al-Dair. Sources said it is administered jointly by the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya communities, with a presence of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Since the outbreak of Sudan’s war in April 2023, Naam has become an important route for goods and fuel arriving from Juba, Aweil and Warrap and heading toward Al-Fula, Al-Mujlad, Al-Daein and Adila. The route is also used to transport civilians, including the sick and wounded, and for people fleeing conflict-affected areas.
Observers warned that prolonged disruption or repeated violence at the market could further disrupt supplies of goods and fuel to large parts of western Sudan.