Tribal clashes in Sudan force curfew

Third consecutive day of violence in the city of Port Sudan, on the Red Sea coast in the east of the country. Since Sunday, this city has been experiencing an increase in attacks between tribes that have already claimed the lives of, for the moment, 25 people and dozens have been injured. The spokesman of the Central Committee of Doctors of Sudan, in statements to the Efe Agency, has confirmed the 25 victims while the wounded amount to 78.

The governor of the state, Abdullah Shankari, has decreed a curfew from 17:00 to 06:00 local time, after the fighting, which began on Sunday, continued for the third day and violence has spread to several neighborhoods in the city. The clashes began when a convoy allegedly belonging to the African Nuba clan invaded a neighbourhood inhabited by the Arab Beni Amer clan.

According to AP, the country's prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, announced the deployment of troops to Port Sudan to help contain the fighting. He also urged political parties in eastern Sudan to cooperate with local authorities to "protect social security and peace ". Clashes between the two tribes were reported as early as May and left dozens of people dead. 

Since the end of the country's nationwide civil war between Arab and African tribes in 2008, tribal violence has increased considerably. In late July, a wave of violence in Darfur jeopardized the Sudanese transition process. Sudan's Prime Minister announced the creation of a joint security force to "protect citizens and ensure the agricultural season". On 11 April 2019, after 30 years in power, Omar al Bashir was overthrown after massive popular mobilizations. Since then, a transitional government, led by Hamdok, has been trying to put the country back on track. In February, the government asked the United Nations to set up peace operations throughout the territory and ensure a smooth transition process.