The Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and Sovereign Council, and the United Nations (UN) peacekeepers have failed to avoid deadly clashes between Darfurian farmers and Arab herders over the distribution of lands. 

DEMONSTRATIONS AFTER DEADLY CLASHES

Between November 2019 and July 2020, clashes between Darfurian farmers and Arab herders over the distribution of fertile lands led to the killing of c.100 people. In an attempt to stop these clashes, and to get their lands back, groups of Darfurian farmers recently organised sit-ins in several cities. The protestors received a visit from a delegation from the Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and the Sovereign Council, who promised to protect them during the agricultural season. A similar delegation also visited survivors of an another demonstration in Fata Borno in North Darfur, where at least nine protestors were killed. In an effort to protect farmers,  civilian governors were appointed to replace those from the military, after Darfurian farmers had blamed those military governors for supporting Arab herders. The Sudanese Prime Minister also promised to send more soldiers to Darfur. 

THE ROOT OF CURRENT VIOLENCE

This issue over the distribution of lands originated during the Darfur conflict that began in 2003 when the Arab militiamen known as the Janjaweed raped, mutilated, and killed thousands of Darfurian citizens, mainly from the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa tribes. These acts of violence were orchestrated by the Sudanese government led by Omar Al Bashir in order to repress two Darfurian rebel groups; the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement. These groups had requested the end of marginalisation of Darfur. The crimes committed by the Janjaweed led the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict four Sudanese dignitaries, including Al Bashir, for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The survivors of these attacks fled their homes and lands to seek refuge in humanitarian camps. As a consequence, their lands were given by Al Bashir to Arab herders coming from Darfur and neighbouring countries. This new distribution of lands prohibited Darfurian farmers to grow their food and led them to be highly dependent on international aid. As a result, some Darfurian farmers have attempted to go back to their lands to feed their family, leading to the clashes with Arab herders. 

A COMPLICATED ISSUE FOR THE SUDANESE TRANSITIONAL CABINET AND SOVEREIGN COUNCIL

These clashes have continued despite the arrest and ousting of Al Bashir on 11 April 2019 by the Sudanese army. The Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and Sovereign Council succeeded Al Bashir on 17 August 2019, with the aim to end the conflict in Darfur and to find a solution to allow a safe return for Darfurian farmers to their lands. To that aim, the Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and the Sovereign Council is working with the Sudan Revolutionary Front rebel alliance, composed of several Darfurian rebel groups, including the Sudan Liberation Movement. These groups aim to sign a peace agreement, and agree both a better power-sharing with Darfurian citizens, and a solution to allow a safe return to Darfurian farmers to their lands. Part of this solution would be to disarm all herders and allocate them new lands for their animals, but this process will take time. In the meantime, the Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and the Sovereign aim to protect Darfurian farmers during the agricultural season. These clashes in Darfur are an important issue to solve for the Sudanese Transitional Cabinet and the Sovereign Council in order to bring peace in Sudan and to prepare the 2022 presidential elections.

THE LACK OF PROTECTION FOR DARFURIAN FARMERS FROM THE UN PEACEKEEPERS

These deadly clashes have occurred despite the presence of the UN peacekeepers, as part of the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The failure of this UN mission to protect Darfurian civilians has been denounced, in particular during the Fata Borno repression. This hybrid peacekeeping mission was scheduled to end in June 2020 but Darfurian civilians and non-governmental organisations had expressed their fear about this idea. This mission was extended until December 2020 and will be replaced from January 2021 by the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan for an initial twelve-month period. In the long term, the presence of foreign soldiers in Darfur is clearly not the best solution to guarantee peace between Darfurian farmers and Arab herders. Therefore, the Transitional Cabinet and the Sovereign Council would have to agree with Darfurian farmers and Arab herders on a new fair distribution of lands, and would also have to disarm all militiamen.

Quentin is writing his dissertation about the International Criminal Court and the Darfur case as part of his Master of laws at Manchester Metropolitan University. Since his volunteering experience with migrants in Calais in 2015-2016, he has been committed to defending their rights. He is also campaigning with Oxfam and Amnesty International about human rights and environmental issues.

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