Al-Daein, November 10 (Darfur24)
At least eight people were killed on Sunday in intercommunal clashes between members of the Rizeigat and Habbaniya tribes in Al-Sunta locality, South Darfur State, eyewitnesses told Darfur24 on Monday.
The violence has renewed security tensions in the area following a brief period of calm.
Eyewitnesses said the clashes erupted in the Rams area, south of Al-Sunta locality, leaving at least eight people dead from both sides, according to preliminary casualty figures.
They said the fighting followed accusations that livestock belonging to members of the Rizeigat tribe had been stolen in the area.
The incident has heightened fears of further clashes between the two groups.
The latest violence in Rams follows an earlier confrontation between members of the two tribes in the Dabab area of Al-Firdous locality, amid recurring disputes over cattle theft, land ownership, grazing areas and livestock migration routes.
Al-Sunta and Al-Firdous localities have witnessed repeated deadly clashes between the two tribes in recent years, despite several peace agreements and ceasefire arrangements brokered by local administrations.
Observers say the agreements have repeatedly failed to hold because of weak implementation mechanisms and limited security and government presence in rural areas.
Residents are calling on authorities and local administrations to intervene urgently to contain the tensions, prevent the violence from spreading to neighbouring areas and avert wider fighting that could disrupt the agricultural season and undermine stability in the locality.
