Farmers, firewood collectors attacked in South Darfur

Militiamen shot and abducted two farmers in southern Jebel Marra on Sunday. Three firewood abductors in Mershing were attacked and robbed of their carts.

An eyewitness reported that militiamen in four vehicles arrived at farmlands in Gobo and attacked Abdelmahmoud Saleh (35 years) and Yahya Haroun (45) while they were tilling their farm.

They shot Yahya in both legs and beat Abdelmahmoud with their rifle butts, the witness said. Then the perpetrators took them up in one of the vehicles by force of arms and drove off.

The witness expressed concern that the victims might be tortured or killed.

Abduction

Also on Sunday, a number of herders held three displaced people from Selo camp in Mershing area, and demanded SDG 15,000 for the release of their possessions.

One of the sheikhs in the South Darfur camp told Radio Dabanga that a number of herders seized the three camp residents when they were west of the camp collecting firewood. “The three victims were released on Monday, but the herders demand SDG15,000 for their carts.”

Disputes between herders and farmers occur more often this time of year, as herders let their cattle graze on farmlands that have not yet been harvested, causing friction between the groups. Tensions over land and pastures have often caused clashes between farmers in the region of Jebel Marra and militant herders who want to use their farms as pasture. This has also been the case for returning displaced people looking to farm in their area of origin.