(Ecofin Agency) - In Sudan, the Transitional Council declared a state of emergency last weekend in the eastern Red Sea State after deadly clashes that killed more than a dozen people in Port Sudan, the state capital and main port on the Red Sea.

The clashes, the reasons for which are still unknown, broke out between the Bani Amer and Nuba tribes, which, according to the government's statement, had “used weapons for the first time.”

This announcement comes in a context of increase in inter-community violence in several African countries in recent years. On 18 August, Chad announced the closure of its border with Sudan, as part of a state of emergency declared in the east of the country after inter-community violence.

The Governor of the Red Sea State and the Head of Security have been dismissed from office, while an investigation has been opened to determine the causes of the incident in a country where inter-community violence is frequent.

As a reminder, since 21 August, the new sovereign council has been in charge of the transition in Sudan after President Omar al-Bashir's ousting under street pressure.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou