The Rufa’a Al Hawa nomadic tribe in Sennar State’s Dali and Mazmum areas are reporting a deteriorating security situation along grazing routes to the south.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, a lead of the pastoralists said they were experiencing worsening security in Blue Nile State. They complained of targeted killings against the herders and looting of cattle in the state.

Mohamed Ali, a leader of the Rufa‘an Al Hawa tribe, described an incident in which two boys who were grazing their cattle were allegedly killed and hundreds of cattle raided last week. He said that in the raid about 650 head of cattle belonging to his tribesman called El Rayah Yusuf Jubara were taken and the herders killed.

He accused the Sudan People’s Liberation Army North of involvement in incidents of killings and raids, especially in areas around Buth in  Blue Nile. He claimed about 27 cattle keepers have been killed since last year.

Ali called on the SPLA-N leadership to control their soldiers from killing innocent pastoralists. He also called on the state government in Blue Nile to protect the nomads in territories under their control.

File photo: Goats in an acacia forest in Sennar state (UNEP)