A group consisting mainly of women, children, and elderly members of the Ma’alia tribe was reportedly kidnapped in East Darfur on Saturday, allegedly by members of the Rizeigat. The incident has called a halt to mediation efforts between the tribes.

All reports confirm that the group was travelling from state capital Ed Daein to Abu Karinka locality; however accounts differ on the exact location of the incident, and the number of people concerned. Unamid has said it is redirecting resources to search for them.

Nazir

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the Nazir of the Ma’alia, Mohamed Al Saphi, claimed that 42 members of his tribe were kidnapped on the road “about 2km outside Ed Daein by members of the Rizeigat militia group calling itself ‘Savannah’”. The former rebel group has now reportedly been “recruited as a militia by the government”.

Most of the victims had apparently been stranded in Ed Daein as a result of the recent clashes between the tribes. The lull in tribal hostilities was expected to be an opportunity for them to return home, so they were being escorted to Abu Karinka by a contingent of the Sudanese army as well as a certified Commissioner.

Nazir Al Saphi claims that the Commissioner and army units did not intervene to protect the group, but returned to Ed Daein after the incident, saying that his tribe would “boycott any reconciliation efforts until this issue is solved”.

Commissioner

In a statement, Commissioner Alaajp Ashour Kapor of Shakra said that “17 members of the Ma’alia tribe have been kidnapped 3km north-east of Ed Daein”. He said that the kidnappers were “an armed group” and that “they have taken the people to an unknown destination”.

Another source told Radio Dabanga that the incident prompted the Ma’alia delegation to delay travelling to Al Taweisha in North Darfur to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement with the Rizeigat.

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, according to Unamid: “Tensions between the Rizeigat and Ma’alia were triggered earlier this month by unresolved disputes concerning access to land resources.

At a reconciliation conference in Al Fula, capital of West Kordofan, mediator Ahmed Mohamed Ali said that “delegations of 15 leaders from each tribe have agreed to enter into a truce to stop the war and hostilities.” The official signing was scheduled for Sunday.

Unamid

Unamid has confirmed that its forces on the ground in the area have been reassigned to search for the abductees. A spokesman said that Unamid airlifted 656 Ma’alia members from Ed Daein to Abu Karinka, in four batches, on Saturday, but that the search for those kidnapped would now take priority.

File photo: Unamid airlift (Rania Abdulrahman/UNAMID)