The African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in its efforts in promoting peace, facilitated a reconciliation meeting between Kutum and Al-Waha representatives, on 12 November, in Kutum, North Darfur.

The meeting, which aimed at highlighting the importance of peaceful co-existence and inter-community dialogue between the two localities, as the only means for overcoming past problems, was attended by executive managers of the localities, the Government’s Military Commissioner and other local officials, in addition to representatives of UNAMID.

As result, the representatives of the two localities agreed to bring the leaders of the seven administrative units in the area to a preliminary dialogue to be held on 27 November to advance the reconciliation process, under the auspices of UNAMID’s Civil Affairs Section.

Violence began in the area on 1 August when the Commissioner of the district of Alwaha, in Kutum town, and his driver were shot dead and his vehicle was carjacked. Later in the day, the official’s vehicle was recovered by Government of Sudan security agents two kilometres from the Kassab internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.

Subsequently, on the same day armed men surrounded Kassab, looted the market, burnt down the Sudanese Police post in the camp and reportedly killed four persons (three civilians and one police officer) and injured six others.

Similar events leading to the deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation occurred the following days in and around Kutum town, Kassab and Fataborno IDP camps, including fighting between the armed elements and Government Forces, as well as looting and displacement of civilians.
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