Farmers abducted in Darfur, #Sudan

Zalingei Locality / East Jebel Marra — Militiamen abducted
two farmers and seized their tractor in the area of Dankoj in
Central Darfur on Friday. The farmers were released on
Sunday. The gunmen demand SDG35,000 for the return of
the tractor. In East Jebel Marra, herders released their
camels and cattle on farmlands by force of arms.
"Two militiamen on a motorcycle on Friday attacked two
farmers, while they were tending their lands in the area of
Dankoj, east of Central Darfur's capital of Zalingei," a
villager told Radio Dabanga from Dankoj.
"They beat them with rifle butts, before abducting them.
They also took their tractor. The two farmers were released
on Sunday, but they have to pay SDG35,000 ($6,110) to get
their tractor back, the abductors told them."
The villager said that the "government-backed militiamen
have intensified their attacks in the areas of Waranga,
Dankoj, and Tarka". "The gunmen expel farmers from their
lands at gunpoint. They threaten them with murder, if they
would ever return."
He demanded from the authorities to put an end to the
violations of the militiamen, and protect the farmers, "so
they can continue cultivating their farmlands".
East Jebel Marra
Since one week, farmers in East Jebel Marra have not been
able to work on their lands, as herders released their
camels and cattle in the area by force of arms.
One of the affected farmers told Radio Dabanga that a week
ago herders entered their livestock at gunpoint in a
farmland area of about 350 acres. "The farmers of Hashaba,
Koto, Dali, Karfola, and Nimra cannot reach their lands
anymore."
He appealed to the authorities to intervene, deter the
herders, and protect the farmers.
On 20 July, Radio Dabanga reported that militiamen in North
Darfur are grazing their livestock at farmlands. "They
prohibit us to prepare for the new agricultural season," a
farmer in Donki Ba'ashim said.