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SENNAR - 27 Nov 2013

Sennar tribe claims occupation of land by government

The Rufa‘a El Hawa nomadic tribe in Sennar, Sudan, claims to have lost pastures for their cattle to government officials. “Sudan now has formed a committee that will resolve the problems of land with the Sennar's nomadic tribes,” the tribe leader says.

A member of the Shura council of the Rufa'a El Hawa tribe said: “We have lost our land at Kukuri and El Turus areas, due to unfair logging of forests for the purpose of agriculture.

“Vast amounts of land have been occupied by prestigious traders and senior government officials,” he added.

The tribe's leader noted Sudan’s presidency has formed a committee headed by Mahdi Ibrahim, chairman of the ruling National Congress Party. He expressed pessimism about any possible restoration of their occupied areas, despite concerns of Sudan’s presidency.

The council member explained that the committee is tasked to resolve the problem of land and the challenges facing the nomadic tribes in Sennar.

The Rufa‘a El Hawa tribe seasonally used to cross the Sudan-South Sudan border in order to graze their cattle.

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