Herders killed, arrested by North Darfur police

Two herders were killed in North Darfur and two were arrested in a clash between a government force, after the herders had attacked a police vehicle Saturday.

A group of about 12 armed herders opened fire on a police vehicle, Sheikh Mukhtar Bosh, a leader of Rwanda camp in Tawila locality, told Radio Dabanga yesterday.

The police was guarding farmers at Nue area, southeast of Tawila town. The shots resulted in damage to the vehicle.

A joint police and security force chased down and attacked the herders. Two of them were killed in the ensuing gunfight. Boash reported that three herders sustained injuries and have been brought to the hospital. Two members of the group were arrested.

Earlier this month armed herders opened fire and seriously wounded five people at Kurfla area, 5 km west of Tabit, as they returned from farming. On August 7 herders attacked a group of farmers south of Tabit when they tried to drive away the herders’ livestock, upon which they opened fire. This resulted in the killing of a woman.

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. Farmers speaking to Radio Dabanga have often expressed their desire for more protection and security in order to make the farming season succeed.

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.