A leading Sudanese politician has condemned the assassination of a local official in South Sudan’s Darfur region, saying that the move is an attempt to escalate tensions between the newly formed states. The assassination, which is thought to be the second in 24 hours, has been blamed on tribal conflicts threatening to destablise the region. Despite gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, after decades of civil war, South Sudan is still rife with violence, with many tribes mounting revenge attacks on Sudanese groups. On a recent visit to Darfur, Sudan’s Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussain and Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed discussed the security challenges facing the region, which is continually plagued with violence. Security reports state that 89 attacks of this kind have occurred in the region since 2003, most of which committed by armed rebel groups. Many of these incidents have also been blamed on political parties such as the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan’s Liberation. However, a spokesperson for Sudan’s Liberation Party said that Darfur has witnessed unprecedented violence in recent years due to tribal conflicts. He also warned that if the current fighting continues, it will threaten the peace of the state.