Authorities in West Darfur state in western Sudan authorized security forces to use force to resolve the latest flare of violence. A fresh outbreak between tribes in the Forbrenga region in the southern part of the state has left at least 14 people dead and many more injured since yesterday. The Security Committee has given regular forces the mandate to decisively confront what are described as outlaws, a statement carried by West Darfur Governor Jamis Akbar. Reuters reports the governor’s message as the official stance guiding security actions in the area.
The move follows a one‑month state of emergency declared in all towns across the region, a decision announced yesterday by West Darfur authorities after renewed clashes between an Arab tribe and an African group intensified instability in this troubled corner of Sudan. The new orders come amid ongoing concerns about the cycle of retaliatory violence and the strain it places on civilian life in the region. Reuters notes that residents and local officials describe the emergency as a critical step aimed at restoring some measure of security and order while authorities assess the best paths to reduce further harm.
The toll from the ongoing conflict stands at 14 for now, with many other victims reportedly not yet counted due to bodies remaining in streets and neighborhoods. This assessment was conveyed by Forbrenga state president Mohamed Hussein Timan, who emphasized the difficulty of obtaining precise figures under conditions of rapid movement and ongoing security operations. Timan added that security forces had engaged in intensive actions across more than six neighborhoods to deter looting and to protect markets, a description underscored by witnesses and local officials who say gun battles with militants persist in several pockets of the town. He also requested additional reinforcements from Geneina, the state capital, underscoring the perception that the forces on the ground were not sufficient to contain the fugitives and restore calm.
Violence in Darfur has long been shaped by a mosaic of tribal affiliations, settings where competing groups live in close proximity and with limited access to resources. In recent years, the region has faced heightened tensions linked to broader political and economic turmoil that intensified after the military coup in October 2021. Analysts and aid workers have highlighted how governance gaps and disruptions to humanitarian access have amplified vulnerability, even as local authorities strive to reestablish basic security for communities living in frequent proximity to armed clashes. Reuters coverage frames the wider context by noting how the broader crisis has curtailed civilian protection and complicated efforts to document casualties and displacements across Darfur.
Darfur’s history includes a devastating ethnically framed civil conflict that produced hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions between 2003 and 2008. In the generations since, periodic episodes of intertribal violence have persisted, causing renewed suffering and creating pockets of instability that hinder development and labor markets. Recent events in Forbrenga reflect how tensions in the region can swiftly escalate when state authorities tighten security measures and communities confront the consequences of long-standing grievances. Reuters reporting situates these incidents within a broader pattern of recurring clashes that continue to shape daily life and governance in Darfur, illustrating why regional leaders emphasize the need for cautious, well-coordinated responses to protect civilians and rebuild trust among communities.