Darfur: – The ethnic conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan claimed 48 lives and more than 90 people were injured. After this conflict in the El Geneina area, the Sudan government has clamped curfew in the West Darfur region. This is the second incidence of ethnic violence flaring up in Sudan in the last three weeks. The term of the peacekeeping force in the Darfur region of Sudan expired last year, and the Sudanese army is being deployed in this region. Against this background, these incidents of ethnic violence are causing concern.
On Saturday, ethnic conflict flared up in El Geneina, Darfur province’s capital, in Sudan, and the nearby region. The conflict is said to have been sparked from a dispute between the Masalit from the camps for the displaced and the nomadic Arab tribes. The medical official informed that 48 people have been killed in the conflict and nearly 97 people have been injured. There are many women and children among the dead. Sources reported that many of the wounded are in a critical condition, and therefore, the number of casualties can increase.
Ethnic conflicts and violence are being carried out since the last 15 years in the Darfur province of Sudan. The conflict first started in the year 2003 on issues like water, agriculture and land. The local tribes started violence opposing government decisions and control. To retaliate, the Sudanese President deployed the army and created rebel groups and strengthened them. More than 300,000 people have died in the conflict, and more than 2.5 million have been displaced.
To stop this conflict, the United Nations deployed a peacekeeping force with more than 8,000 soldiers in 2007. But that hardly had any effect on ethnic violence. Instead, there were incidents of attack on the peacekeeping force by the local armed groups and government supporter groups. The term of deployment of the peacekeeping force ended on 31st December 2020. The Sudanese military replacing the peacekeeping force and the start of ethnic violence at the same time, draws attention.
Currently, there is a political transition happening in Sudan. Last year, there was a rebellion against dictator Omar al-Bashir. The Bashir rule had been overthrown in this rebellion. The military acquired power after this. But while receiving power, the military had announced that the administrative responsibilities would be handed over to a political system. The process has been started for this transition, and against this background, these instances of ethnic violence could become a cause for concern for the new government.
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