Large herds of livestock have accumulated in the Um Dafuq area of South Darfur, near Sudan’s border with the Central African Republic, after renewed tribal clashes prevented herders from reaching grazing lands across the frontier.
Hamed al-Taher, a Sudanese herder from the region, told Darfur24 that the latest tensions between border communities forced herders to remain inside Sudan, creating overcrowding, overgrazing, and water shortages. “We used to move freely with our cattle into Central African territory during the dry season, but that’s no longer possible,” he said.
Local tribal authorities have urged herders to stay put until the outcome of a reconciliation conference scheduled in the Central African town of Um Dafuq later this week.
A mediation committee from the South Darfur locality of Um Dukhun had announced the peace talks last week, but the meeting has been postponed several times for logistical reasons, according to the committee.
Local sources told Darfur24 that a delegation from the Ta’aisha tribe has arrived in the Sudanese side of Um Dafuq, while other community representatives have reached the Central African side where the talks are to take place, attended by local officials, U.N. peacekeepers, and Russian forces stationed in the area.
