Update on South Darfur Inter-Arab Conflict

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001731 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN GROUP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: Update on South Darfur Inter-Arab Conflict ¶1. (SBU) According to AMIS sources, a July 11 argument over grazing rights for livestock between a local farmer and a herder escalated into a tribal conflict between the Habaniya and the Rezeigat tribes in the El Ferdous and Buram area of South Darfur State. Initial reports state that 60 Habaniya and 44 Rezeigat were killed in fighting and 106 Habaniya and 145 Reizeigat were wounded in fighting that lasted from July 12 - 16. (Note: these casualty figures are uncorroborated, and seem to be quite high. End note.) This series of events, however, has resulted in a suspension of humanitarian operations in the area. ¶2. (SBU) AMIS sources further indicate that the South Darfur State Wali (governor) and Ed Daien Commissioner visited the area on July 14 to been with tribal leaders in an effort to end hostilities. On July 19, the Sudan News agency (SUNA) announced that the two tribal chiefs (Habaniya Chief Salah Ali al-Ghali and Rezeigat Chief Saidf Musa Madibo) had signed an accord for the cessation of hostilities and agreed to rely upon traditional means of resolving disputes in the future. The account further states that the agreement stipulated that any offender is to be regarded as a lawbreaker, and that the official Investigation Committee would examine the situation and take actions to resolve the situation. Both sides agreed on the return of internally displaced persons to their home areas. STEINFELD