The governor of Sudan’s West Kordofan State Gen. Ahmed Khamis announced that the reconciliation conference between the Arab nomadic tribes the Rizeigat and Ma’alia will be convened on 10 June in El Fula town.
Though the two tribes involved are both from East Darfur, officials from the Misseriya tribe of West Kordofan have been involved in mediating.
Khamis announced this in a speech during the inauguration of judiciary building at El Khoi Locality last Thursday. Gen. Khamis confirmed that the necessary arrangements are in place for the peace conference to kick off on 10 June.
He further revealed the town will later also host a peace conference between Ma’alia and Hamar tribes.
For his part, the Rizeigat tribal leader Mohamed Issa Aliu reiterated their commitment to attend the expected meeting in El Fula town.
“Initially, the Rizeigat tribe was reluctant to attend the conference in El Fula, but we were recently encouraged and reassured by the governor that he is capable to host the conference of the two feuding tribes,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the governor also announced measures to contain the fighting within the Missiriya tribe itself, in West Kordofan.
“With respect to the ongoing fighting between clans of the Misseriya tribe, a delegation comprised of sons of the Misseriya will come from Khartoum soon in order to contain the conflict,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Local residents of West Kordofan State were skeptical about the success of the expected conference in El Fula town under the auspices of the governor.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, several citizens called for involvement of the native administration in that meeting, saying the local authorities of West Kordofan failed many times to contain such tribal conflicts in the State.