South Darfur farms distributed to Abbala herdsmen

Displaced farmers living near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, complain about the occupation of their lands.

The farmers of 13 villages located south of the Nyala-Ed Daein railway have repeatedly demanded the South Darfur authorities intervene and return the farms to their owners.

One of the affected farmers explained to Radio Dabanga that they were forced to abandon their homes and lands in early 2014 because of attacks by paramilitaries of the security-commanded Rapid Support Forces. They then sought refuge in El Salam camp for the displaced near Nyala.

He said that the authorities then distributed their farms to Abbala herders, under the supervision of a militia leader named Yousef El Simeih.

The Abbala are camel-herding Rizeigat, whose homelands are in North Darfur and Chad.