Herders expel farmers from their lands in South, North Darfur

On Monday, armed herders released their livestock on farms in Gireida locality in South Darfur. The grazing has destroyed most of the crops. In Tawila, North Darfur, Abbala herdsmen assaulted and robbed farmers before driving them from their farms.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, one of the affected farmers reported that a group of armed herdsmen drove their camels and cattle onto farms in the areas of Kobe, Haraza, Dukour Nazalo, Um Mari, Sagor, Donki Abyad and Hashaba.

“They drove us from our farms with their whips. The livestock caused widespread damage to the crops,” he said.

The farmer added that the tribal chief of the Masalit in Gireida, Abdelrahman Bakheet, reported the attack to the locality commissioner. “The commissioner said that he does not have the competence to intervene, arguing that he receives his orders from the State.”

In the area of Hashaba village, southwest of Tawila in North Darfur, more than 11 farmers were injured when militant Abbala whipped them.

The attackers robbed them of their money, mobiles phones, tools, and food, before driving camels and cattle onto the farms.