Farmers shot, abducted by North Darfur herders

Armed herders shot and wounded one farmer and abducted another as they worked their land in North Darfur on Tuesday.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that Yousif Musa Abdelrahman and Abdel Majeed Yousif Ibrahim were working in Wadi Barkoro area near Dobo El Omda in Tawila locality, when the herders approached them and opened fire.

Abdelarahman was wounded in the leg. The herders then forced Ibrahim to go with them, and made off to an unknown destination.

Two farmers were abducted by unknown gunmen, also in Tawila locality on May 7.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a farmer reported from Mashrou Abu Zeid, east of Katur in Tawila locality, that he and other villagers were cultivating their farms, when four armed men driving a Land Cruiser intercepted them.

“They ordered us to immediately leave the area, because they are liberated lands,” he said. “Abdelmajid Yousif and Mahjoub Suleiman objected, which prompted the militants to force them at gunpoint to embark their vehicle. They then left with them to an unknown destination.”

On 20 April, farmers El Hadi Ibrahim and Yousif Haroun were abducted in the area of Katur by three armed herders on camels. The incident was reported to the commander of Katur garrison.

Farmers and firewood collectors in the area repeatedly complain of assaults by gunmen from Darfur or western Africa, who tell them they do not have the rights to use “the liberated land”. Darfur displaced as well complain about “new settlers” from among militiamen in Darfur or neighbouring countries occupying their villages and farms.