A reconciliation conference between the Fallata and Masalit communities began in Nyala, the capital of Sudan’s South Darfur state, on Sunday, following an outbreak of armed violence in Gireida that killed 16 people and injured 23 others.
Omdah Tala’at Khawf Al-Shanahi, rapporteur of the mediation committee, told Radio Tamazuj that reconciliation sessions began in Nyala on Sunday.
He said the talks are aimed at strengthening social cohesion and communication between the communities of Tulus locality, represented by the Fallata, and Gireida locality, represented by the Masalit.
Al-Shanahi said the sessions had been marked by solidarity and mutual support, adding that representatives of both communities had expressed a desire to coexist peacefully.
He said the communities also expressed their willingness to live together as part of efforts to promote national unity.
Mohammed Hassan Al-Taishi, prime minister of the Government of Peace, which is aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), also addressed the peace conference.
Nyala serves as the seat of the RSF-aligned parallel administration in areas of Darfur under the paramilitary group’s control.
Al-Taishi blamed the violence on what he described as the weakness and absence of state institutions, saying repeated tribal conflicts reflect failures by state authorities to provide security and enforce laws.
“The problem is with the state,” Al-Taishi said.
He said the absence of police stations, courts and other state institutions could allow further disputes to emerge between communities.
He questioned the use of armed forces to deal with what he described as a local dispute and accused state institutions of failing to address the underlying causes of conflict.
The conference comes amid continuing efforts by community leaders in Darfur to contain local conflicts that have intensified during Sudan’s wider war between the Sudanese army and the RSF.
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