The death toll from tribal clashes in the village of Tawil Saadoun in West Darfur state in western Sudan has risen to 47, according to a tribal leader, who told AFP.
This comes two days after the killing of more than 80 people in clashes in the restive region two days ago.
Muhammad Saleh Idris, a leader of the Fallata tribe, said, "Now 47 bodies have been removed from the Fallata and the clashes have stopped, but they may return at any time," noting that gunmen attacked today morning the village of Al-Tawil Saadoun while they were riding motorcycles, camels and vehicles, as well. They burned a number of houses.
Renewed confrontations
The Darfur region witnessed a renewal of tribal confrontations that left 15 dead and dozens wounded in late December, a few days before the end of the 13-year joint peace mission between the United Nations and the African Union.
More than 80 people were killed in clashes in the region two days ago, according to what was reported by the Sudan Doctors Central Committee.
The union added that the clashes took place in a camp for the displaced in the city of Al-Geneina, noting that 160 others were injured in clashes between ethnic groups.
Villagers in Darfur during previous tribal clashes (Reuters)
Decisions and clarifications
Following the attacks on Saturday and Sunday, the Sudanese Security and Defense Council decided in an emergency meeting chaired by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, to send security reinforcements to West Darfur State to secure the citizens and protect vital facilities.
After the meeting, Sudanese Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim said that the council decided to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the events in the region.
The Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan said - in a statement - that members of the armed forces are among the victims.
For its part, the Darfur Lawyers Association said - in a statement - that Sunday's attack occurred after a member of the Masalit tribe stabbed an Arab tribe.
"The armed militias lurking took advantage of the incident and attacked the city of El Geneina from all directions," the statement said.
These acts of violence are the most prominent confrontations in the region since the signing of a peace agreement last October, which was intended to put an end to the war in the region.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, expressed his "grave concern" about the attacks.
Since 2003, the war in Darfur between pro-government forces and rebel minorities has killed nearly 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million, according to the United Nations.