Tension rises between North Darfur farmers, herdsmen

In the area of Disa in Kutum locality, North Darfur, tensions are rising between farmers and herdsmen, after a herder was killed by army forces, when he refused to withdraw his camels from farmlands on Tuesday. “The incident occurred after a group of militant herders entered their livestock by force of arms into the farmlands in Disa on Tuesday,” Mohamed Ahmed Minawi, member of Parliament for Um Baru and Kornoi constituencies, told Radio Dabanga. “The affected farmers informed the army forces stationed in the area, whereupon the army commander ordered the herders to take their livestock from the lands. They refused. In the ensuing clash, one of them was killed. “The militant herders then mobilised the tribesmen, and returned to the area in heavily armed vehicles, together with others on the backs of camels and horses. They re-entered their livestock into the farmlands. The farmers in turn mobilised other farmers, and gathered in armed groups, insisting to protect their farms.” The MP warned that the situation might end into a catastrophe, and appealed to the authorities to “quickly intervene to prevent more bloodshed and contain the problem”. File photo: Villagers in Kereinik, West Darfur (Didier Ruef) Related:At least three dead, five injured in West Darfur clashes (3 December 2014) Herders kill farmer, graze livestock on farms in Central Darfur (3 December 2014) 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)