Protesters from the Hamar tribe have reopened the road linking En Nehoud in West Kordofan to the North Darfur capital of El Fasher after a week-long closure. They have given the Sudan government a month to implement their demands to establish the state of ‘Central Kordofan’ with its capital at En Nehoud.
The Head of the Higher Committee for the Implementation of the Decisions of Hamar People, El Safi Hamad, told Radio Dabanga that the road (B26) was reopened and the sit-in lifted on Thursday evening, following a visit by a delegation from the Sudan government in Khartoum, which included representatives of the Sovereignty Council, and a number of ministries and regular agencies. They promised the Hamar committee that they will present their demands to the authorities in Khartoum.
Hamad explained that their demands include placing the public funds collected in the city of En Nehoud in a special account that is not related to West Kordofan state.
“If the central government does not respond to the demands of the Hamar, we will return to the sit-in, block the road, and stop collecting money again,” he added.
As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, the Hamar organised a large demonstration in En Nehoud on October 1 and also occupied premises of the Sudanese Company for Mineral Resources. In a press statement at the time, Hamad said that they are calling for a new state of Central Kordofan consisting of six localities with En Nehoud as its capital.
Conflict
Fighting broke out in Abu Zabad on September 11 following a conflict concerning the demarcation of the border between the Hamar and Misseriya nomadic tribes in the area. The clashes, that lasted until the next morning, left at least six people dead. More than 20 others were injured.
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies warned that the conflict could have serious negative impacts on the region, which might also impact South Kordofan. The conflicting parties signed a reconciliation agreement on September 21.
Appeals
The Sudan People Liberation Movement-North, of which the faction led by Abdelaziz El Hilu controls parts of South Kordofan, called on all the tribes of West Kordofan to unite and explained that the strife between the Misseriya and the Hamar does not benefit either of the two tribes. The rebel movement appealed to the two parties to reconcile and find harmony but stressed that the state must play its role in facilitating this.
Source: Radio Dabanga