Ma’aliya tribesmen participating in East Darfur State institutions have decided to boycott the state ‘politically and administratively’, in protest against continuous attacks by Rizeigat militants, which they say the state and national governments have failed to stop.

Eight Ma’aliya state ministers, commissioners, and advisors, and 12 members of the state’s parliament have submitted their resignations, “as nothing has been done to deal with the continuous Rizeigat attacks on Ma’aliya villagers in Abu Karinka locality”, said Hamid Mohamedi Bashar, advisor to the governor, and secretary of organisational affairs of the Sudanese Islamic Movement.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Sunday, he said that all the Ma’aliya working for the East Darfur state government have submitted their resignations to the native administration. “They will proceed and forward the resignations to the National Congress Party and the federal government.”

Ma’aliya leaders will meet with representatives of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese government to discuss the restoration of their “usurped rights”.

“The Ma’aliya propose three options for reconciliation: the formation of a clearly defined oil state in the area, place the area under jurisdiction of North Darfur State, or set up an administration mechanism similar to that of Abyei.”

On 16 August, at least 47 tribesmen were killed in fighting that broke out between Ma’aliya and Rizeigat in Um Rakuba, Abu Karinka locality, after the theft of livestock. Government troops were deployed as buffer forces, to no avail, as three days later fierce clashes erupted, after Rizeigat militants had attacked Ma’aliya citizens in the area. Hundreds of people were killed. Various clashes had already erupted in the area in July.

In the last week of August, Ma’aliya in a number of East Darfur State localities went to the streets in protest against the lack of protection by the authorities. They called for the abolition of the state, and demanded the incorporation of East Darfur areas inhabited by Ma’aliya into North Darfur State.

On 1 September, a number of Ma’aliya leaders resigned from East Darfur State government posts, and withdrew their NCP membership.

File photo: Ma’aliya in Adila town, East Darfur, in a protest march on 31 August 2014 (Radio Dabanga)