Herders kill farmer, graze livestock on farms in Central Darfur

Militant herders shot dead a displaced farmer in Bindisi locality, Central Darfur, on Monday. Farmers in the adjacent Wadi Salih locality complain about livestock grazing on their lands. Multiple witnesses reported to Radio Dabanga from Bindisi camp for the displaced that camp resident Yagoub Yousef was killed by camel herders in the area of Jartaga, 2 km west of Bindisi town. “When the herders entered their camels on the Jartaga farmlands, about eight women farmers and their children attempted to halt the animals from destroying the crops,” one of the witnesses informed Radio Dabanga. “They led the camels to the nearly special enclosure for lost animals in the area, whereupon the herders began beating them with their whips. Yousef tried to intervene and stop the beating, after which a herder fired at him. He died instantly.” Another witness said that Halima Abakar, Fatima Mohamed, and Basic School student, Adam Mohamed, were seriously injured by the beating. Harvest In the area of Garsila, Wadi Salih locality, herders are also releasing their livestock on farmlands by force of arms. The farmers fear that all their crops may be spoiled. A farmer told Radio Dabanga that when the farmers object, they are subjected to beatings and death threats. He appealed to the Central Darfur state authorities to intervene, and protect their lands, so that the crops can be harvested.  File photo: Camel herders in Darfur (RNW) Related:Darfur herders demand grain from farmers (12 November 2014)Four farmers slain by herders in North Darfur (9 November 2014)Livestock destroyed harvest in Kutum, North Darfur farmers report (9 November 2014)