Armed men seize farms in West darfur

A group of pro-government armed men assaulted a number of farmers in West Darfur. After insulting and beating them, they burned down their farms. The men driving a land cruiser attacked the farmers on Tuesday evening in Jimmaizat Babiker and Hajer Bager, west of For Baranga. A farmer told Radio Dabanga that the militants expelled them from their lands and threatened to kill him if they returned.

The farmer said the armed men warned the farmers the area is meant for grazing and not for agriculture according to our source. The commissioner of For Baranga, Suleiman Khater Zayed, visited the area on Wednesday and echoed the exact same words.

Suleiman Khater Zayed denied the attacks on the farmers. During an interview with Radio Dabanga he confirmed he had visited the area, accompanied by a committee made up of 20 people; 10 herdsman and 10 farmers. He said the committee had managed to contain and resolve all the problems that erupted between them.