At least eight people were killed and 14 others wounded during armed clashes in Al-Dabbah in Sudan’s Northern State, according to local security officials.
The fighting erupted on Tuesday in several parts of the city, including the busy Grand Market area, causing panic among residents as light and heavy weapons were reportedly used.
Initial reports described the violence as clashes between members of the army-allied Joint Force and armed men from the Kababish community. Local sources later reported that seven of those killed were affiliated with the Joint Force, while one victim belonged to the Kababish tribe.
However, the Joint Force denied that any of its official units had participated in the fighting. A spokesman said the confrontation involved rogue individuals and suspected local drug traffickers rather than forces operating under the group’s command.
According to local accounts, the violence followed a security operation targeting suspected drug-trafficking networks in the area. The precise circumstances surrounding the outbreak of fighting remain disputed.
The director of police in Al-Dabbah confirmed that eight people had been killed and 14 wounded, adding that additional regular forces had been deployed to contain the unrest and pursue those responsible.
Witnesses said the wounded were taken to hospitals inside and outside the city as gunfire spread through residential and commercial districts.
The Sudanese army reportedly intervened to bring the situation under control, while local authorities ordered intensified security patrols and investigations into the clashes.
Authorities have not yet released a complete list of the victims or announced any arrests.
