Sudan: 18 Killed in Clashes in El Geneina City

18 people died, and 54 were wounded in tribal clashes in the Sudanese city of El Geneina, medics said on Monday.

The violent incident is believed to be the latest in the troubled region since signing a peace agreement and the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers last year.

In January of last year, at least 129 people were killed and military reinforcements were brought into El Geneina, capital of West Darfur state. Nonetheless, they have since eventually withdrawn, according to local sources.

Moreover, the most recent clashes began between members of the Masalit and Arab tribes on Saturday and escalated on Sunday and Monday morning throughout the city, the West Darfur Doctors Committee revealed in a statement.

Residents of the city and an internal UN security bulletin, seen by Reuters, report the use of heavy weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, in addition to pictures and videos from residents that showed plumes of smoke rising from the city's neighborhoods.

In October, the transitional Sudanese government signed a peace agreement with some of the rebel groups which had fought ousted President Omar al-Bashir.

However, attacks by members of Arab tribe, Al-Bashir had armed to fight the rebels, have been escalating, and tribal clashes have increased in the heavily armed region.

Hence, the international peacekeepers began withdrawing at the start of the year, and the Sudanese government affirmed that a new joint peacekeeping force mandated under the agreement would be able to protect civilians. However, many in Darfur say they feel less safe.