afrol News, 29 May - Tribal clashes between the two main nomadic tribes in South Sudan have killed over 240 people within a space of a week, the Sudanese Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad has said in a statement.

The fighting which broke out last weekend between the Misseriya and the Rizeqat tribes on the border of the regions of Darfur and South Kordofan also killed 75 police officers after they were attacked by a mob of over 3,000 tribesmen. The toll among the Misseriya is 89 while the Rizeqat is 80 according to official reports.

The minister said those responsible will be brought to justice and that the authorities will take steps to disarm civilians to halt further fierce and deadly clashes among civilians.

Although the cause of the clashes are still unknown, in the past the two tribes have repeatedly clashed over the scarce drinking water for their herds in the troubled region where farming is the main source for income.

Since the clashes last weekend, Sudanese authorities have called on both sides to pull back five kilometres from the disputed water source to avoid fresh fighting in the region.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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