Three dead in Sudan tribal clashes

At least three people were killed and 11 others wounded in clashes between rival ethnic groups in Sudan ’ s eastern Kassala state after the nomination of a new governor , officials said Thursday.

The fighting began a day earlier between the Beni Amer tribe and the Beja tribe after the nomination of Salah Ammar of the Beni Amer as governor of Kassala .

One person was killed on Wednesday and 11 others wounded , and the fighting resumed Thursday, claiming two more lives .

“ An authorised protest in Kassala turned violent , with shops set on fire , private property destroyed and two people killed” on Thursday, a statement from the prime minister’ s office said .

“ Seven people who were involved in the violence were arrested, ” the statement said , adding that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was sending security reinforcements .

Thousands of people converged on Kassala , some with sticks and swords, chanting slogans hostile to the new governor , an AFP reporter and witnesses said .

According to the UN, a state of emergency has been imposed in Kassala and security forces have deployed to contain further violence.

In July , Hamdok announced that he would replace all the military governors in the country’ s 18 states with civilian ones, but the move has stoked tribal rivalries.

( AFP)