Tribal clashes claim 40 lives, displace thousands in Darfur

More than 40 people are feared dead while many others wounded in fresh tribal clashes that broke out Wednesday in troubled Darfur region.

The clashes erupted between Salamat and Missyria Arab tribes in Sirbaka area which is located near Zalingi, the capital of the central Darfur state.

The area commissioner, Alsadiq Abdallah, told the official Sudanese news agency (SUNA) that fighting has extended from central to South Darfur.

“The situation is critical but we sent some reinforcements to the area to control the situation” the commissioner said.

He further pointed out that the government of the state has an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to explore ways on how better to address the deteriorating security situation.

A reliable source from United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) spokesperson's office confirmed the clashes.

more casulalties

“Our reports have confirmed clashes broke out between two armed Arab groups” the source said (Africa review) without giving more details.

Some eye witnesses from the area also confirmed the outbreak of the fighting, but they told (Africa review) that the number of casualties could be more than 200 persons.

The witnesses further disclosed that the warring factions threatened to attack the local government’s headquarters.

They further revealed that the fighting had left at least five villages burnt down with thousands of residents fleeing their homes to neighbouring Zalingi city.