Ethiopian gangmen kill Sudanese herder in border area

January 31, 2023 (GEDAREF) – Ethiopian militiamen killed a Sudanese herder when the assailants sought to loot their cattle in the Basanda locality near the border with Ethiopia on Tuesday.

The Amharic militiamen, known as Fano, continued attacks on Sudanese farmers and herders in the border Fasharqa area, despite the efforts of Addis Ababa and Khartoum to improve relations for the sake of the two countries.

Karrar Mohamed Musa, a Sudanese herder, was shot in the chest, at the Kenina area, two km inside the Sudanese border, during a brush with Amhara Fano gangs who penetrated the Sudanese territory to loot livestock

A Sudanese police force, led by Captain Mohamed al-Hassan, was dispatched to the area, to pursue the assailants who fled to Ethiopian territory.

A criminal complaint was filed to investigate the attack and follow the matter with the Ethiopian authorities.

Some localities along the border between the two countries have agreements to end tensions and manage border crossings.

Meanwhile, a Native Administration official of the Beni-Amer tribe, Mohamed Hassan Haj Agha, called on the security authorities to secure the movement of shepherds and their areas at the border stripe.

In statements to Sudan Tribune, the deputy Nazir of Beni-Amer urged the authorities to boost military presence and joint patrols to curb transnational crimes and violations.

He stressed that targeting of herders and livestock to gain a financial ransom threatens export, the national economy and animal production.

Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to settle the border dispute between the two countries but they did not discuss the cross-border attacks by the criminal gangs.

(ST)