15 killed in new tribal fighting in Darfur

SANAA, Dec. 28 (YPA) – The governor of South Darfur said on Sunday that Sudan would deploy “large numbers” of troops to the state after 15 recent deaths in tribal violence.

The state is part of the restive Darfur region in western Sudan, which has suffered bitter conflict that erupted in 2003.

“A struggle over a source of water between the Masalit and Fallata tribes in the Gereida area resulted in the killing of two Fallata,” the Sudanese News Agency said, quoting two local leaders.

One of the local leaders said, “Individuals from the Fallata responded by killing 13 Masalit and wounding 34 others.”

Gereida is 97 km south of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state.

The Sudanese agency reported that the region witnessed several bloody clashes between the two tribes in the past two years.

The Sudanese agency added that this is the first time that there has been violence between the two tribes since they reached a reconciliation in October.