The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur, has deployed additional forces to protect farmland in North Darfur’s Tawila locality following complaints that livestock belonging to herders have damaged crops.
Farmers told local Sudanese media on Wednesday that the movement’s military commander in Tawila had sent more than 10 personnel to the Khazan Tunjur and Tarni areas in response to demands for stronger protection during the agricultural season.
The deployment follows repeated complaints from farmers in Khazan Tunjur, south of Tawila, who reported that herders had been allowing their livestock to enter cultivated land, destroying crops and threatening agricultural production.
Farmers said SLM forces detained several herders last week over the incidents but subsequently released them following intervention by traditional community leaders. The herders reportedly pledged not to allow their livestock onto farmland again.
However, farmers warned that the continued movement of herders into areas surrounding Khazan Tunjur, particularly Kanjara, could result in more extensive crop losses unless additional protection was provided.
Local farmers had previously reported a growing influx of herders into the area, saying the limited number of SLM personnel stationed there was insufficient to protect agricultural land. Their complaints prompted calls for reinforcements to prevent further damage.
The situation comes as large parts of Tawila and neighbouring Dar al-Salam face worsening drought conditions caused by erratic rainfall and poor agricultural yields.
The deteriorating conditions have raised concerns about growing food insecurity and livestock deaths across North Darfur, where farmers and pastoralists are increasingly struggling to sustain their livelihoods amid the prolonged conflict and pressure on agricultural resources.
