Inter-communal violence that spread into Blue Nile’s Ar Rusyaris locality leaving at least 13 people dead and more than 24 injured, according to OCHA. The situation is still tense and unpredictable. There are unconfirmed reports that an estimated 1,200 people have been displaced. Hausa have reportedly been expelled from the area by the Aj Jabalaween tribe.
KHARTOUM OCTOBER 17: According to OCHA, inter-communal violence that spread into Blue Nile’s Ar Rusyaris locality from Wad Al Mahi in July, renewed on 13 October in Dam town 6 (Village 6), leaving at least 13 people dead and more than 24 injured.
According to unconfirmed reports, on 13 October, two Hamaji people were killed near Dam Town 6 in Wad Al Mahi locality due to a dispute over land issues. This led to clashes between the Hausa community and other tribes in the Dam town areas (Dam towns 6 and 7) that lasted until 16 October.
The situation is still tense and unpredictable. There are unconfirmed reports that an estimated 1,200 people have been displaced and are taking refuge in schools in Dam town 6 and in the nearby Camp 6 refugee camp. As a result of the conflict, the local market in Dam town 6 has been closed and residents are facing problems getting their daily needs.
Government offices are also closed. State authorities have imposed movement restrictions, and there is no movement between Ed Damazine and Wad Al Mahi despite the heavy deployment of security forces.
Field teams from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) report that the Hausa have reportedly been expelled from the area by the Aj Jabalaween tribe. The area is currently inaccessible to humanitarians. Security forces have been deployed to the area to defuse the situation, which remains tense and unpredictable with the possibility of revenge attacks at any time.
Inter-communal fighting between the Hausa and Hamaj tribes started in Wad Al Mahi locality in mid-July displacing about 64,800 people and leaving 149 people dead and 124 injured as of 6 October. Most affected people have reportedly taken refuge within Blue Nile State and in Sennar, White Nile, Aj Jazirah, Gedaref, Red Sea, and Khartoum states, according to the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).
Although leaders of the two communities signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in early August, renewed clashes have been reported in some locations in Ar Rusayris and Wad Al Mahi localities since September.
What’s Behind Rising Tribal Tensions In Sudan?
Image: Albert Gonzalez Farran/UNAMID
