More than 250 representatives of the Beni Hussein and Abbala tribes gathered in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, for a two-day reconciliation meeting set up to address outstanding issues between them and diffuse tensions in the area. A reconciliation committee consisting of tribal representatives, Native Administration leaders, members of the security management committee, officials from the Government of Sudan and sheikh Musa Hilal initiated the meeting.

The King and Shartai of the Fur, the Nazir, sheikhs and umdas of the Rezeigat, the Nazir of the Beni Hussein, the Amir of the Tama, other significant tribal leaders from Kabkabiya, Saraf Umra and El Sereif as well as government military and police personnel participated in the conference.

The gathering, which commenced on 5 June, follows an escalation of conflict which resulted in the blockading of roads and preventing supplies, including food, medicine and fuel, from entering the El Sereif locality of North Darfur.

UNAMID, which played a significant role in organizing the event and supporting it logistically, has been assisting reconciliation efforts since the inception of the conflict.
 
Addressing the participants, UNAMID’s Head of Office, Sector North, Mr. Mohamed El-Amine Souef, reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to carrying out its core mandate of protecting civilians, supporting local-level mediation and facilitating humanitarian assistance. Stressing UNAMID's commitment to help Darfuris bring about durable peace and stability, he urged all to support ongoing mediation efforts. “Without peace, there cannot be development; and without peace in Darfur, there cannot be stability in Sudan,” he said.

Update:

On 7 June 2014, the reconciliation conference between members of the Beni Hussein and Abbala tribes concluded with the resolution of pending issues between them and the agreement to re-open the roads leading to El Serief.