4 killed in Sudan’s Darfur, death toll rises to 200

By Buhram Abdel-Men'em

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Four people were killed in fresh tribal clashes in Sudan’s West Darfur province on Saturday, taking the overall death toll since last week to 200, according to local medics.

In a statement, the Sudanese Doctors Committee said the new fatalities were reported in the provincial capital Geneina.

There was no comment from the Sudanese authorities on the report.

The latest bout of violence erupted last week in the Kreinik village in the province amid a shortage of humanitarian aid and medicines.

On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned the violence in West Darfur and called for an "immediate cessation of violence" and a "transparent investigation" into those responsible.

The UN stressed "the primary responsibility of state authorities to protect civilians."

Sudanese judicial authorities on Friday formed an inquiry committee to investigate the latest wave of tribal violence in West Darfur.

Several areas in Darfur witness sporadic deadly clashes between Arab and African tribes as part of conflicts over land, resources, and grazing paths.

In January, at least 100 people were killed in Jebal Moon in Darfur in attacks by armed groups, forcing nearly 20,000 people to flee their areas, according to local medics.

In 2003, Darfur was ravaged by a deadly conflict in which more than 300,000 people were killed and nearly 2.5 million displaced from their homes, according to the UN.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar