Tribe Members Freed after Darfur Kidnap

Twenty-four people have been freed in Sudan's Darfur region, four days after being abducted by a rival Arab tribe following deadly clashes, official media said on Wednesday.

The Maaliya tribe members kidnapped by the Rezeigat have been released "in response to efforts of mediation and the government," the state SUNA news agency said.

Dozens died in fighting between the Maaliya and Rezeigat in East Darfur on August 10 and 11.

"The kidnappers asked for a ransom to release the people," said Ali Al-Tahir Sharif, the head of Fardus district, outside the East Darfur state capital Ed Daein.

He was quoted by the state-linked Sudanese Media Center, which is close to the security apparatus. The report did not specify whether any money was handed over.

Zekria Suliman, a local Maaliya leader, told Agence France Presse on Sunday that five Maaliya families, 24 people in all, were captured Saturday night just outside Ed Daein as they tried to flee the area.

He did not accuse the Rezeigat, but blamed "Janjaweed" and said his group would boycott a ceasefire process until the Maaliya were freed.

Non-Arabs in Darfur rose up 10 years ago against what they saw as the domination of Sudan's power and wealth by Arab elites.

In response, government-backed Janjaweed militias shocked the world with atrocities against them.

Although the rebellion continues, analysts have warned since at least 2010 that relations were souring between the government and the Arab tribes it armed to fight the insurgency.

Analysts say Sudan's crisis-hit regime now has less money for the militias, who are acting outside government control.

Tribal disputes have been driven by conflicts over resources, including land, water and mineral rights.