At least 20 people of the Ma'alia Arab tribe were reportedly killed and another 16 wounded in a renewed clashes with the Hamar tribe in El Geraf area in Sudan’s East Darfur state on Thursday.

Osama Jibril, a youth leader from the Ma'alia tribe, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the fighting between the two tribes took place in El Geraf village near El Mazroub area on Thursday evening and continued for several hours.

He noted the clashed resulted into the killing of about 20 Ma'alia tribesmen including two women and wounded about 16 others, who were were taken to a hospital in Adila town.

Jibril said the clashes were instigated by a Hamar tribesman who was looking for his cattle in the territory of the Ma'alia.

“That man came to look for his cattle, so some people from Ma'alia tribe told him that your cattle are not here because we signed a truce in El Fula town,” he explained.

“Shortly afterward, the same person came back again along with other youths and attacked us,” he claimed. He further noted that the Ma’alia tribal leaders have reported what happened to the two tribes’ joint peace and reconciliation committee.

A follow-up peace conference between the two warring tribes had been expected on Sunday in West Kordofan state.

A member of the peace committee, emir Munaim El Shuwen, told Radio Tamazuj that they received reports about the recent clashes, but could not yet confirm the number of casualties.

He also disclosed a difference of opinion over the date set for the peace conference between the two tribes. The Ma'alia tribe said Sunday was the appropriate day for the meeting, whereas the Hamar requested that the conference be deferred to 15 June.

“The renewed clashes will definitely effect the date of the conference. Therefore I appeal to the parties involved to listen to the voice of reason instead of war,” he said.