Crisis of returnee herdsmen escalates

Khartoum-The chief of Rufa’a tribe Brig. Yousif Ahmed Yousif has revealed the death of more than 36 children and 9 women in Sinnar state after their return from South Sudan State. He said that the children have died due to the lack of health services in the area, saying that the lack of mid-wives and health units is the reason for the women death.

In the meantime, the returnees’ committee has accused Sinnar state of ignoring the President of the republic decision number 209 to settling them in their areas, saying that the state has considered the decision as hopes and aspirations.

Yousif, who is also a deputy in the Parliament, told the journalists on Monday that they totally reject the vice president decision to move them from Kokarim, and Atros area to Ombadir. He accused the governor of Sinnar of acquiring 5 billion pounds that was were earmarked for settlement of the returnees, and of planning a sedition between the farmers and herdsmen as he said that the areas where the herdsmen exist are agricultural.

He justified the governor’s accusation that he armed members of his tribe to face the farmers as part of the popular defense during the South Sudan war.

He referred that they have agreement with the minister of defense to evaluate the weapons which they confiscated from the rebels and hand them over to the armed forces. He threatened to implement the presidential decision on settling the returnees in the area and opening the corridors by force.