The two feuding tribes in Tatale in the Northern region struck a deal yesterday at Yendi agreeing to accept “whoever” is appointed as DCE for the area, ending a week long tension that caused scores to flee and forced schools and health posts to temporal closure.
Negotiators from both the Bassare and Konkomba tribes met with traditional rulers, divisional security heads and intermediaries in a long hectic deliberation before a deal was reached.
The meeting nearly failed when the Bassares initially was unwilling to apologize to the Konkombas for comments they made during an illegal protest that renewed the enmity, a source at the meeting told Kasapa News.
The two tribes however resolved to end the hostility after security heads and arbitrators explained how conflicts have devastated the region in name and in development, citing the Nanumba- Konkomba wars.
They agreed to end all misunderstandings and discontinued plans to pick up arms.
“It was a very nice conversation we all had there, and we hope that it gets down to the various individuals in the district. We have agreed that whoever is appointed as DCE for the district should be accepted in good faith irrespective of the tribal affiliation”, Jaja M. Thomas a Konkomba youth leader told Kasapa News after the peace talk.
The Yendi police commander also confirmed the deal and said the ceasefire talk was successful .
Chaos nearly broke out last week in the district capital when the Bassare tribe acted on a rumor and staged a violent protest against the paramount chief.
The Bassares claimed they had heard the chief was lobbying for a Konkomba to be appointed as DCE and threatened to slaughter the rival tribe and also harm the chief if he succeeded in influencing the nomination.
The Konkombas took offence and demanded an apology and retraction of the death threat, but the bassares refused sparking tensions in the infant district.
Armed soldiers and police were hurriedly deployed but tensions escalated immediately after they withdrew.
Schools and health centres still remain closed after students, teachers, nurses and other practitioners fled the town following widespread revenge attack rumor.
By: Eliasu Tanko
