Tribal conflict in Sudan's Darfur opens new wound in the region

The recent clashes between Reziegat and Ma'alia tribes in Sudan's East Darfur State has opened a new wound in the bleeding body of the troubled region.

Despite a fragile government-mediated truce currently prevailing between the two tribes, yet clashes could be reignited if efforts to reach reconciliation between the two sides fail.

The Ma'alia tribe, which lost dozens of its members in recent confrontations, has set a number of conditions for talks, such as canceling East Darfur State established two years ago, and investigating government officials it accuses of being behind an attack against its tribalmen.

Elshiekh Mardis Jumma, chairman of Ma'alia tribe's Shura Council, told a press conference on Thursday that the attack was planned to destroy his tribe, adding that they were aware of all the moves of the aggressors and their plans.

The Reziegat tribe welcomed the initiative for reconciliation with Ma'alia in a manner that achieves peace and stability in the area.

"The Shura council of Reziegat, with its full membership, arrived in El Daein and worked to ease the tension and end the war", Mohamed Ibrahim, Chairman of the Reziegat Shura Council, told reporters.

"The council made contacts with a number of the Elders of Ma'alia tribe to tackle the crisis where they (the Ma'alia Elders) expressed a positive stance in support of social peace and peaceful co-existence", he noted.

In a gesture to display the tribe's willingness for reconciliation, Reziegat has released some prisoners and handed them to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Earlier, the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur said in a statement that its peacekeepers in East Darfur have raised their level of preparedness and put in place proactive response measures to address any potential demands for physical protection or shelter for affected civilians.

"The mission remains gravely concerned about the continued mobilization on both sides despite a temporary lull in the fighting", it added.

Violent clashes erupted Monday between the Rezeigat and Ma'alia tribes in Sudan's East Darfur State which left dozens killed or injured from both sides.

The conflict between Rezeigat and the Ma'alia dates back to 1966 owning to land disputes. The conflict has later turned more violent after oil was found in the disputed areas.

The last clashes between the two tribes was in July 2014 which left over 600 persons dead and about 900 injured on both sides, while more than 55,000 others were displaced due to the fighting.