Death toll from armed clashes in Sudan's West Darfur climbs to 137

 KHARTOUM, April 10 -- The death toll from the recent armed clashes in El Geneina, the capital city of Sudan's West Darfur State, climbed to 137, and the injured to 221, reports Xinhua news agency according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors’ announcement Friday.

"The committee counted a new toll of victims, bringing the number of those who were killed so far to 137 and the injured to 221," said the committee in a statement.   

The armed clashes broke out on April 3 in El Geneina city between the Al-Massalit and Arab tribes.   

On April 5, Sudan's Security and Defence Council declared a state of emergency in West Darfur state and authorised forces to adopt all necessary measures to end armed clashes.   

Sudan's Darfur region has been mired in a civil war since 2003.   

On Dec 31, 2020, the UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously passed a resolution that ends the mandate of the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in the region.

The around 16,000 UNAMID soldiers, who have been deployed in Darfur since 2007, are set to complete their exit in July.   

Meanwhile, a UN Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) will be deployed during 2021 to support the transitional period in the country.   

The transitional government in Sudan is trying to fill in the security gap in Darfur by forming a special force from the security and military institutions and armed groups which signed a peace agreement with the government in October 2020. 

Source: https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=1950759