At least two killed in renewed Aswan clashes

At least two people were killed on Sunday in renewed clashes between Hilail and the Nubian Dabodeya tribes in Aswan, state media reported.

This comes following the death of at least 23 people on Friday and Saturday in the ongoing violence that has gripped the al-Sail al-Reefy area, east of Aswan.

The dispute started on Wednesday between two students, but escalated on Friday when members of Hilail killed four Nubians belonging to Dabodeya, including a woman.

Yousry Hassan Bahr, a Nubian resident in Aswan, told Mada Masr that the situation is worse than it was on Saturday. He explained that members of the Hilail tribe took to the streets again on Sunday and started shooting.

He said that neither the army nor the police are interfering to stop the violence. “[Ibrahim] Mehleb lied, he said the army would help us but there’s no army,” he said.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim headed to Aswan to follow up with the situation, and called for reconciliation and an end to the bloodshed.

“Aswan is like Sinai now,” Bahr said.

Trains between Aswan and the High Dam were suspended in light of the clashes, state-owned Al-Ahram reported. Trains from Cairo heading to Aswan are still flowing, the newspaper added.

Ibrahim Abdeen, a Nubian activist, told Mada Masr that “what is happening to the Nubians in Aswan is now pushing us straight to the United Nations and African Union offices.”

Abdeen explained that the Armed Forces have not been present in the area since yesterday, except for two tanks which are “useless.”

He said that despite their futile efforts to contain the situation, the police are “weak, ignorant and helpless.”

Abdeen said that members of the Hilail tribe have more weapons than the police and military present.

“Let us go back to Sudan,” he said, “We can live anywhere, at least I will live like a human being.”

Eyewitnesses pointed to the apparent absence of security forces and their reluctance to intervene since the conflict started on Wednesday. They claimed that the head of Aswan’s security directorate has washed his hands completely of any tribal disputes, and said he will not intervene in any tribal violence.

A source at the Interior Ministry said later on Sunday that three people belonging to the Hilail tribe were arrested, Al-Ahram reported.