Deadly clashes between the Turjum and Bani Halba tribes in South Darfur leave dozens dead and wounded

This morning, Wednesday, violent and bloody tribal clashes erupted in the Abu Ajoura area of ​​Al-Salam locality, west of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, between the Turjum and Bani Halba tribes. Initial reports indicate that 12 people were killed and 17 others were wounded.

Some of the wounded were transferred to nearby health centers, amidst widespread panic and fear in the area due to the use of heavy and medium weapons in residential areas.

Informed sources said that the conflict erupted in the Abu Ajoura market following a dispute that escalated due to drug trafficking in the area, before quickly turning into a full-blown armed confrontation with a tribal dimension.

The sources stated that the Rapid Support Forces, which administratively and militarily control the area, completely failed to contain the situation in its initial hours. This allowed the conflict to spread, with the use of four-wheel-drive combat vehicles (pickups) and advanced weapons belonging to members of the two tribes involved in the militia, which intensified the fighting and increased the number of casualties.

Field sources confirmed the continuation of large-scale military mobilization by both sides of the conflict (the Turjum and Bani Halba tribes) in the areas surrounding Al-Salam locality.

This comes amid serious fears of renewed clashes and the transformation of South Darfur into an open war zone between tribal groups.

A cautious calm currently prevails in the region, punctuated by a state of extreme tension. Large tribal reinforcements have been observed arriving in the vicinity of Abu Ajoura, signaling a potential expansion of the conflict to other areas if immediate intervention is not undertaken to resolve the dispute and stop the bloodshed that now threatens what remains of the social fabric in the state.