More tribal clashes in Sudanese port city; death toll at 25

Tribal clashes that have gripped a Sudanese port city over past three days have killed at least 25 people and wounded scores, a doctors’ association said on Wednesday.

fighting in Port Sudan in eastern province of Red Sea erupted earlier this week between Beni Amer tribe and displaced Nuba tribe. It wasn’t first time two tribes clashed in Port Sudan or elsewhere in county.

clashes prompted local authorities on Tuesday to impose a round--clock curfew across city. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said Wednesday that troops have been deployed to Port Sudan to help contain fighting.

He urged political parties in eastern Sudan to cooperate with local authorities to “protect security and social peace.”

Sudan Doctors’ Committee said clashes continued until late Tuesday. death toll climbed to 25, after 13 people were initially reported killed on Tuesday, it said. At least 87 ors were wounded.

committee is part of Sudanese Professionals’ Association that spearheed nationwide protests against longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. military ousted al-Bashir amid protests in April last year.

Local media reported that several houses and shops were set on fire amid violence in Port Sudan.

tensions between two tribes date back to May 2019 in eastern city of Qarif, mainly over water and or resources. clashes flared up in August last year in Port Sudan, when at least three dozen people from both sides were killed. y also clashed in January in port city, when nine people were killed.

tribal violence poses a significant challenge to efforts of Sudan’s transitional authorities to stabilize country amid a fragile transition to democracy.