Violent Tribal Clash Erupts in Tindouf Refugee Camp Over Land Dispute

Two factions of the Rguibat tribe, the Ahl Lahcen Ouhmad and the Oulad Moussa, violently clashed on the evening of April 13, in Tindouf and more precisely in the camp called "Smara". Damage and serious injuries were recorded.

Le360 writes: "According to our sources, these clashes broke out following a dispute over a plot of land at the intersection of the Dairas (a kind of pachaliks, i.e. under the authority of a Pacha, an agent now obsolete of the authority of the Makhzen) of Farcia and Jdayria. It is armed with bladed weapons and gas cylinders that the two camps clashed."

The same source specifies that there were 17 injured among the members of the factions that clashed, plus 9 others among the law enforcement officers stationed in these camps. This shows that the tribes have their own laws and that rebellion is so to speak common currency for them. Not to mention the fact that they are members of the same tribe...

Three people were burned to varying degrees following these events, a house was set on fire, as well as 4 tents, "including one belonging to the one called Najem Ould Dakhni Ould Smaïl, a Rguibi from the Labouihat Ahl Sidi Abdellah ou Moussa faction," specifies Le360.