Darfur farmers: ‘armed herdsmen grazing ahead of schedule’

Farmers in four states of Darfur have lodged complaints about armed herdsmen grazing their camels and livestock on their farmlands by force, ahead of schedule. Herdsmen are allowed to graze their livestock on the farmlands from February onwards. Several farmers reported to Radio Dabanga that in the localities of Kutum, Kabkabiya and Saraf Omra in North Darfur, Wadi Salih, Nierteti and Zalingei in Central Darfur, Murnei, Foro Baranga and Sirba in West Darfur, and Mershing and Manawashi in South Darfur, “herdsmen armed by the government” released their camels and cattle on their farmlands. The herders beat the farmers and threatened to kill them in case they halt them, a source told Radio Dabanga. Farmers are urging authorities to speed up intervention to protect them and their lands so that their efforts and the money they have spent on the lands will not be lost, noting that their crops are ready to be harvested. File photo: asareca.org Related: Farmers in four Darfur states threatened by ‘armed herders’ (4 October 2013) Herdsmen grazing land of displaced Darfur farmers (15 September 2013) ‘Herdsmen graze livestock on Darfur farms at gunpoint’: farmers (31 July 2013)