Nyala – Darfur 24
When the battles intensified between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, and the survival of civilians there became fraught with great life risks, “Hikma” fled from her home in Nyala, accompanied by her four children, to the “Markundi” area in Kabum locality, 136 kilometers west of Nyala , the provincial capital of South Darfur State ,just to distance her children from the dangers of battles.
But after a few days, “Hikma” was surprised by the transfer of the nightmare of war to the Kabum locality, but it was a tribal war this time whose main goal was to kill civilians, as clashes and mutual attacks broke out between the Bani Halba and Salamat tribes, which brought reassurance to those who had been displaced.
It led to fear and terror, and a few days had passed when the Salamat tribe launched another surprise attack on the “Markundi” area, a few days after an agreement to stop hostilities between the two tribes.
Hikma says after the attack on the city of “Kabum”, the capital of the locality, community leaders from the two tribes sat down thanks to the intervention of the tribal leaders in the state and reached an agreement to stop the hostilities, “This agreement was for us a straw that we held onto to reach the reassurance that we left Nyala to search for, but we were surprised by another armed attack.” On Thursday afternoon, September 7, the area was reduced to ashes, and the attackers killed dozens of residents, including children and the elderly, and we fled again, accompanied by dozens of families.”
Burning of villages
The village of Markundi was set on fire by fighters from the Salamat tribe commented proudly after their attack on the area, which is located 136 kilometers west of the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
On Thursday afternoon, September 7, the residents of the “Markundi” area which is inhabited by a majority of the Beni Halba tribe and minorities from the Fur, Beni Hassan, and Salamat tribes, were surprised by a violent attack by hundreds of gunmen on four-wheel drive cars and motorcycles, which led to the killing of more than 40 people and the wounding of dozens. The attack included anumber of small villages around Markandi.
A video went viral on social media showed fires and columns of smoke in a number of houses located next to the area’s market. The video which was filmed by one of the attackers named Saddam Ahmed Jar Al-Zein – also shows a group of gunmen, some of whom were wearing the uniforms of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Since August 4, 2023, bloody Clashes have been taking place between the Beni Halba and Salamat tribes, in which heavy weapons were used, leading to the deaths of hundreds on both sides.
The scope of fighting between the two sides expanded to include the burning and destruction of several areas in the states of South and Central Darfur, and the displacement of their residents.
Survivor testimonials
Hikma Muhammad Ahmed, 34 years old, says that she did not expect the sounds of bullets to hit her again in the area remote from the areas where the army and RSF are located. Hikma told Darfur24 that gunmen from the Salamat tribe attacked the “Markaidi” area ferociously on September 7, and she continued – in a sad tone of voice. – She heard the voices of women and children screaming during the attack, and she did not know anything about their fate, but she indicated that many families were able to flee east after the sounds of ammunition intensified.
“Hikma” said that her three children suffered injuries in their feet as a result of walking for three days, during which they covered more than 40 kilometers to reach the “Umm Labasa” area, which is located north of the cities of Markundi and Kabum.
While Adnan Sharaf al-Din said that the attack on that day included the areas of “Markundi, Adar, Damba, and Delmanj,” and the markets inadition to the burning of government institutions.
He added: “The deaths in these areas exceeded 50, including women and children.”
A medical source at the Turkish Nyala Hospital, who refused to reveal his name, told “Darfur 24” that more than 50 wounded have arrived at the hospital since the beginning of the fighting between Salamat and Beni Halba.
He added: “The hospital is full of wounded, most of whom are women, children, the elderly, and some young people, some of whom are in need of urgent surgical intervention.”
Displacement
The Humanitarian Aid Commissioner for the state of South Darfur, Saleh Abdel Rahman, told Darfur 24 that the conflict between the two tribes caused the displacement of more than 10,000 people from both sides from the areas of Kabum, Markandi, Dambar, and a number of villages in the Greater Idd al-Fursan locality.
He added:” Members of the Salamat tribe were displaced to Al Salam locality , 36 kilometers west of the city of Nyala, the state capital, while families from the Bani Halba tribe headed south to Rahid Al Bardi locality. ”
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