North Darfur villagers detained after complaint about herders

Members of the Sudanese government paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) detained two North Darfur villagers from their homes on Monday, allegedly after they complained of herders driving livestock onto their lands.

A member of the family of the detainees told Radio Dabanga that an RSF force in four vehicles entered Tono village, 20 kilometres west of Zamzam camp in North Darfur. They raided the homes of Haroun Haggar and Jumaa Hijeir, arrested them and then moved them to the state capital of El Fasher.

He said the arrest came after both Haggar and Heijer filed complaints to the governor of North Darfur Sharif Samouh, and the commander of the RSF, Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan (also known as Hemeti), during their visit to Zamzam camp on Monday, where the detainees explained to the governor and Hemeti the extent of violations and trespass by herders on their farms and on the farmers’ land.

The relative demanded their immediate release.