130 killed in Sudanese tribal clashes

Around 130 people have been killed and 100 injured in Sudan, following recent fighting between ??Rizeigat and al Maalia tribes in East Darfur. In a press conference, Nur al Daem ?al Beshry, a Sudanese Member of Parliament, said violence was not directed at security forces, but was a result of a land ownership dispute in the Klekly Abu Salama area, which it said historically belonged to the Maalia clan. Beshry accused the government for failing to contain the violence. Merdes Gomaa, head of the Maalia Shura Council, the tribes inner circle of advisors, called on the government to intervene and resolve the decade-old conflict. In a statement issued to Arab Today, he accused Rezeigat members of “trespassing” onto Maalian land, and said the tribe was repeatedly attacking his people in the Omaima, Umm Takoula, Abu ?Karinka, Umm Ghbeisha and Hilal areas of Sudan. Gomaa said Rizeigat has historically been behind tribal conflicts with other groups including Zagahwa, al Habbaniya and Beni Halba. A source in Khartoum told Arab Today that tensions were running high amoungst different faction, in the capital. He said Hasabo Mohammed Abdel Rahman, National Congress Part (NCP), political secretary, had begun meeting tribe leaders to try and contain the violence, The Governor of East Darfur, Abdul Hamid Moussa Kasha, accused the Maalia tribe of inciting the recent wave of clashes.  He said the fighting begun after some members stole cattle from rival, Rizeigat.