Tensions are very high between traders from the Misseriya tribe and authorities in Sudan after fire was set to a market in Nyama, a town north of the disputed Abyei Area in the Misseriya territory, and trucks were allegedly looted.

Traders blame the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) for allegedly attacking a trade convoy of 32 trucks in the South Kordofan town on 14 May, killing one trader by the name of Adam Ibrahim Osman, injuring four others and causing seven more to go missing, according to an eyewitness to the attack.

The witness further said that during the attack SAF set on fire the whole market of Nyama burning an estimated 2000 shops and the residential areas of the traders, a move seen by many Misseriya as a plot against them.

In interviews in Mayom, a county seat at the northern border of South Sudan, many Sudanese traders said they have had to delay their return to their country because the road north is closed. About 30 trucks are stranded in Mayom.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, one trader said that he lost his brother in the attack and added that they are under threat from the SAF if they return back to Sudan and their trucks will be confiscated by the Sudan Armed Forces.

“They have opened a case against us and we are wanted once we step there,” he said.

The traders questioned why they are subject to attacks from the SAF, since the two Sudans have signed a cooperation agreement allowing trade between the two countries.

“The cooperation agreement only exists on paper but not in actuality,” he said, adding that the Misseriya are organizing themselves to face the state government on the matter if it fails to resolve their problems with the army.

For his part, Misseriya tribal leader al-Khair Ismail al-Khair, who is also the chairman of the Peace Committee of the Misseriya community in Unity state, has threatened that should the state government fail to compensate the victims for losses incurred, “the people will rebel against the government.”

Al-Khair claimed the SAF attacked Misseriya traders who were transporting goods from South Kordofan to South Sudan. “Two people were killed, four injured and seven more are missing, presumably at the hands of armed forces. Traders have also faced huge losses as their goods were either pillaged or destroyed,” Al Khair claimed.

He stressed that eight cars were destroyed by machine gun fire, and 16 trucks were stolen by the SAF. 

The tribal leader disclosed that a meeting was held between the state government of South Kordofan’s western sector and the native administration, which demanded compensation for the families of the dead, as well as for the traders who lost their goods.

“The people will rebel. It is clearly a rebellion. How can the system rule me and mistreat me? Why am I not served by the system?”

Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach the authorities of western South Kordofan for comment.

See also: Conflicting reports on fire in W. Kordofan town (28 May 2013)