Pascal Arogorn Ibe
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)
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