One of several native administration leaders detained recently in Damazin has explained that their recent detention was connected to a land dispute in Blue Nile State.

Omda Khaled Medani, the omda of Bok omodiyya (administrative unit), told Radio Tamazuj that the leaders submitted a petition to the presidency addressing a number of issues including a land sale in the state. The State Ministry of Agriculture has given a 90 year lease of some land to the Jatropha company, something objected by traditional leaders, he said.  

Immediately upon return of the traditional leaders from Khartoum to Damazin they were summoned by security forces and then detained in individual cells. Medani complained of the prison conditions saying they were kept separately and that it was very hot in the cells. They were released after three days.

Several of the other leaders arrested included Mek Abdelmalik Hamdan, mek of Keili, Omda Bade Khalifa Kabbas, omda of Olo, Omda Ibrahim Uthman, omda of Keili, among others.