Sudanese army militiamen kill farmer in South Kordofan
December 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government militiamen killed a farmer following a retaliatory attack in South Kordofan State.
After the fall of the al-Bashir regime in April 2019, the transitional government and the SPLM-N rebels declared a cessation of hostilities and engaged in talks to end an armed conflict that resumed in 2011.
However, recently intercommunal clashes resumed in the Nuba Mountains between the farmers and cattle herders over livestock looting.
On 10th December, Popular Defense Force (PDF) fighters who were hunting cattle looters in Umbrembeta of South Kordofan opened fire on three farmers killing one of them while the two others managed to escape.
The PDF militiamen of the Hawazma “found three farmers from the Kawaleeb Nuba working on their farm and they shot at them,” said a local human rights group, Hudo Centre in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.
The assailants killed Zahir Mohammed Elemam, 25 years, while the two others fled the attack.
The day after the PDF militiamen moved to the Kadbar village where they shot in the air using a heavy machinegun mounted on a military vehicle to terrorize the villagers.
The villagers moved their families to Elseraif village, which is located in the SPLM-N controlled areas, said the statement.
The transitional authority dissolved the PDF militias but keeps those of South Kordofan and al-Fashaga area near the Ethiopian border.
Umbrembeta is part of the Abu-Kershola locality of South Kordofan state.
The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) of the IOM Sudan reported that tribal clashes took place in the Delami area between the Hawazma and Kawaleeb.
“On 9 and 10 December 2021, armed clashes between Kawaleeb and Hawazma Arab tribes erupted in Kadbar village in Delami locality, South Kordofan over livestock theft,” said IOM.
Between 50 – 100 households have been evacuated from Kadbar village and are currently seeking shelter in Delami town, said the international group.
(ST)