Unamid calls for restraint in Darfur during rainy season

The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (Unamid) has expressed its concern about the recent increase in tensions between farmers and pastoralists during this rainy season in Darfur.

In a statement on Thursday, Unamid said that several people have either been killed or injured with no immediate indications of constraint from concerned parties, and called on all those involved to exercise restraint.

Unamid is aware of 37 incidents that occurred in July.

Recent events that illustrate the impact of the attacks include the killing of three farmers by armed pastoralists in the Kargo farming area in the neighbourhood of Shangil Tobaya in North Darfur. The victims came from the nearby Naivasha camp for displaced people. Unamid personnel of the Shangil Tobaya Team Site urged the displaced to report the incident to the authorities.

On 11 August, a 65-year old displaced man was working in his field near Shangil Tobaya, when four armed herders drove their herd of camels into his farm. When the farmer drove the camels away, a herder shot the man in his thigh. The victim received first aid at the Unamid Team Site, where he was referred to a nearby clinic for further treatment.

Unamid states it is extremely concerned regarding the number of incidents, including intercommunal clashes, occurring at the beginning of the rainy season. Many of the reported confrontations are linked to farmers attempting to access land for farming and being prevented from doing so by armed pastoralists.

“Unamid is quite disturbed by these reported clashes between farmers and pastoralists. Lives are needlessly lost and sometimes people are injured or lose their entire crop due to this wanton display of violence. The Mission strongly urges maximum restraint in clashes and reiterates its commitment to continue to find creative and robust ways to prevent or respond to these incidents including with authorities,” Jeremiah Mamabolo, Joint Special Representative/Joint Chief Mediator, reacted.

Mamabolo added that “currently, Unamid has increased its protection of civilians response through re-focusing farming patrols to the most affected areas. The Mission has also enhanced community-based peaceful coexistence initiatives and will continue to facilitate longer-term arrangements for sharing land and natural resources. For Unamid, even one reported case is one case too many as these prevent the people of Darfur from fully tilling their land to eke out a living for their families.”

Unamid continues to engage authorities at the state and federal levels to encourage them to intensify their efforts to prevent and respond to such incidents, the statement concludes.

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