Addis Ababa, 25 February 2013: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, expresses deepest concern at the resumption of fighting between Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes in El Sereif, North Darfur, which has caused a considerable number of casualties, and renewed suffering and displacement of the civilian population in the area. Fighting between the two tribes first broke out on 5 January 2013 over control of the gold mining area in Jebel Amer. 

The Chairperson of the Commission urges all sides to show restraint and refrain from taking any action that could jeopardize the agreement on a cessation of hostilities signed between the two tribes on 17 January 2013, in preparation for the reconciliation conference to be convened by the Wali of North Darfur in April this year.

 The Chairperson of the Commission commends the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) for its support to ongoing reconciliation efforts between the tribes. She calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure full and unhindered access for UNAMID and the humanitarian community to the area affected by the recent fighting, to enable them to assess the situation and to deliver the much-needed assistance to the affected population. 

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