The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have detained several suspects following deadly clashes between the Rizeigat and Habbaniya communities in East Darfur, as local commanders and traditional leaders seek to prevent renewed violence.
Seven people were killed and six others wounded in the latest fighting, according to Radio Tamazuj, which reported that the violence erupted following the discovery of the body of a Rizeigat tribesman in a village inhabited by members of the Habbaniya community.
The discovery reportedly prompted a group of Rizeigat men to attack Um Dirab, a Habbaniya-populated area, triggering armed confrontations between members of the two communities.
Brigadier General Mohamed Salman, deputy commander of the RSF in El Daein, said several Rizeigat suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.
He added that efforts were continuing to apprehend suspects from the Habbaniya community.
Salman told Radio Tamazuj that the fighting should not be viewed as representative of either community, instead blaming criminal elements seeking to exploit local tensions for robbery and other offences.
The RSF commander said security forces were working with tribal chiefs and community elders to identify those responsible and restore order.
He also called on residents to provide accurate information when reporting crimes, warning against accusations that could inflame tensions between the communities.
Traditional administrations representing both groups have been involved in mediation efforts aimed at containing the dispute and preventing further retaliation.
The arrests come amid wider concerns over communal security in East Darfur, where local disputes have periodically escalated into armed confrontations.
The Rizeigat and Habbaniya communities experienced another outbreak of violence in September, resulting in approximately 12 reported deaths and injuries before intervention by the RSF and local mediators helped reduce tensions.
The latest arrests underline the security challenges facing the RSF in areas under its control, where the group operates as a principal military component of the Sudan Founding Alliance, known as TASIS.
Local mediation and security efforts are continuing, although it remains unclear whether the latest arrests will lead to prosecutions or a lasting settlement between the communities.
