Following clashes between Salamat and Misseriya in Central Darfur which left dozens of casualties in the past weeks, the African Union-United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) facilitated the travel of the Wali (Governor) of Central Darfur and the State Security Committee, accompanied by a team of UNAMID officials, to Um Dukhun on 17 November 2013 to mediate between the two tribes.

The delegation met with the local security committee, the local peace and reconciliation committee as well as with representatives of both the Salamat and the Misseriya tribes in a bid to defuse the tensions and to urge them to abide by the peace agreement signed on 3 July 2013, facilitated by UNAMID.

UNAMID’s team led by the Central Darfur Head of Office noticed that although the area was calm, tension was still perceptible in Um Dukhun and there was heavy presence of Government of Sudan troops, as well as components from Chad-Sudan joint border patrol teams throughout the town.

The team also met with representatives from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission operating in the area who confirmed that the security situation has improved since 14 November. Therefore, the INGOs decided to stay on to carry out their activities instead of evacuating as previously requested. The INGOs also informed that they are providing assistance to the households affected by the clashes, and that there is an evident displacement in and around Um Dukhun as a result of the latest spat of intertribal fighting since April 2013.

UNAMID remains gravely concerned about the impact of intertribal violence on the civilian population in the affected areas and shall continue to exert intensive efforts to bring the fighting parties to agree on a cessation of hostilities and stands ready to facilitate longer-term reconciliation between them.