Herders drive livestock onto East and South Darfur farms

Farmers in East and South Darfur complain about attacks by herdsmen and the release of livestock onto their farmlands. Abu Zeid Adam Ibrahim Khater, omda of Labado in Yassin locality, East Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that herdsmen “armed by the government” graze their camels and cattle by force of arms in the area. “The animals have destroyed large areas planted with broad beans, millet, and sorghum. The farmers who have been hit most are Nasreldin Ibrahim Khamis, and Omar Idris Ibrahim Khamis.” The omda said that the people of Labado are living in fear because of the presence of large numbers of herders in the area. “The place is surrounded by herdsmen. Many people do not dare to leave their houses to fetch food or water.” South Darfur Farmers in the areas of Bulbul and Dimo in El Salam locality, South Darfur, also complained about the destruction of crops by livestock released by herders on their lands. A farmer from Bulbul called via Radio Dabanga upon “the South Darfur authorities and leaders of the nomadic Arabs to intervene, and remove the livestock from our farms so that we will be able to harvest our crops.” File photo