Abbala herders continue to attack farmers in North Darfur

Three farmers were injured in Wadi Kooratna, west of Tawila, North Darfur, last Tuesday, in an attack by militant Abbala herders.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, one of the victims reported that a group of Abbala tribesmen riding on camels attacked farmers tending their land in Wadi Kooratna.

“They beat us with their whips, wounding a number of farmers. Abakar Abdelrasoul, Abulgasem Mohamed Ahmed, and Adam Abakar Ali sustained serious injuries,” he said.

The farmers have reported the incident to the Tawila police.

Pastures

The last couple of weeks, farmers in North and South Darfur are complaining about attacks by Abbala tribesmen and the destruction of their farms by the herders' livestock. Ten assaults on farmers in which armed herders were involved (mostly in North Darfur state), were reported to Radio Dabanga in the month of October, as opposed to two reported cases in September.

Because of the late and less than average rainfall, there is less and poorer quality pasture available. As a result, herders increasingly drive their livestock onto cultivated lands.

The livestock is also being migrated towards pastures in the south earlier than usual, the Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWS Net) reported in September.

The Abbala (camel herders) belong to the large Rizeigat tribe, and live in northern Darfur and Chad, while their brethren, the Baggara (cattle herders) inhabit south-east Darfur.