The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur has imposed annual fees on household-owned livestock and animals in areas under its control in Darfur, residents said on Monday.
Residents in Tawila and several parts of eastern Jebel Marra told Darfur24 that the movement’s civilian authority had ordered land chiefs, local commanders and other officials to issue financial receipts to families as part of a new annual levy.
The Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid faction, which controls parts of Jebel Marra and has not formally joined either the RSF or SAF camp in Sudan’s war, expanded its presence in Tawila after the conflict erupted, saying the move was aimed at protecting civilians.
According to residents, the new fees amount to 1,000 Sudanese pounds for each sheep or goat, 2,000 pounds for each donkey, 5,000 pounds for each horse and 7,000 pounds for each camel.
They said the movement’s civilian authority instructed local chiefs and some commanders to follow up with households, while other members were assigned to monitor wells and collect payments from residents as they came to draw drinking water and water their livestock.
Residents said the annual fees had triggered widespread anger among local communities, who already face severe economic hardship and insecurity after more than three years of war.
One local chief confirmed that they had been instructed by the movement’s civilian authority to collect annual payments from families for animals and livestock across SLM-controlled areas in Tawila and Jebel Marra.
