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Sudan tells UN-AU mission 'to shut human rights office' | Sudan tells UN-AU mission 'to shut human rights office' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Sudan's government has asked the UN-African Union force in Darfur (Unamid) to shut its human rights office, the joint peacekeeping mission says. | |
The move comes amid tensions over the mission's attempt to investigate allegations of mass rape by Sudanese troops in the Darfuri village of Tabit. | The move comes amid tensions over the mission's attempt to investigate allegations of mass rape by Sudanese troops in the Darfuri village of Tabit. |
The authorities initially refused access to the village; when Unamid did get there it found no evidence. | The authorities initially refused access to the village; when Unamid did get there it found no evidence. |
Darfur has been in conflict since 2003, when rebels took up arms. | Darfur has been in conflict since 2003, when rebels took up arms. |
Unamid has a mandate to stem violence against civilians and currently has nearly 16,000 personnel deployed in the troubled western region. | Unamid has a mandate to stem violence against civilians and currently has nearly 16,000 personnel deployed in the troubled western region. |
The conflict in Darfur is now being waged on many fronts and by different groups involving pro-government forces, rebels, militias and involving inter-ethnic violence. | The conflict in Darfur is now being waged on many fronts and by different groups involving pro-government forces, rebels, militias and involving inter-ethnic violence. |
'Intimidated' | 'Intimidated' |
Unamid said it was working with the authorities to "clarify the role" of its human rights office, based in the capital, Khartoum. | Unamid said it was working with the authorities to "clarify the role" of its human rights office, based in the capital, Khartoum. |
On Tuesday, the Sudanese foreign ministry confirmed that it had also asked the UN to prepare an exit plan for Unamid from Darfur. | On Tuesday, the Sudanese foreign ministry confirmed that it had also asked the UN to prepare an exit plan for Unamid from Darfur. |
This was not in response to the allegations of mass rape but part of a long-term strategy following an improvement of the security situation in Darfur and concerns at the "serious violations that were perpetuated by Unamid" over the years, the state-run Suna news agency reports. | This was not in response to the allegations of mass rape but part of a long-term strategy following an improvement of the security situation in Darfur and concerns at the "serious violations that were perpetuated by Unamid" over the years, the state-run Suna news agency reports. |
But it came days after Unamid was denied permission to make a second visit to Tabit, about 45km (28 miles) south-west of Fasher city, to further investigate local reports that soldiers had raped 200 women and girls last month. | But it came days after Unamid was denied permission to make a second visit to Tabit, about 45km (28 miles) south-west of Fasher city, to further investigate local reports that soldiers had raped 200 women and girls last month. |
According to the AFP news agency, an internal Unamid report said Sudanese soldiers had intimidated villagers during their visit on 9 November. | According to the AFP news agency, an internal Unamid report said Sudanese soldiers had intimidated villagers during their visit on 9 November. |
Government restrictions make it difficult for foreign aid agencies and journalists to work in Darfur. | Government restrictions make it difficult for foreign aid agencies and journalists to work in Darfur. |
The UN estimates that about 300,000 people have died because of the conflict, mainly of disease, and more than two million have fled their homes. | The UN estimates that about 300,000 people have died because of the conflict, mainly of disease, and more than two million have fled their homes. |
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for suspected genocide and war crimes in Darfur. | The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for suspected genocide and war crimes in Darfur. |
Khartoum has dismissed the charges and refused to recognise the ICC. | Khartoum has dismissed the charges and refused to recognise the ICC. |
It says the conflict has killed about 12,000 people and the number of dead has been exaggerated for political reasons. | It says the conflict has killed about 12,000 people and the number of dead has been exaggerated for political reasons. |
Talks between the government and some Darfuri groups began in Ethiopia over the weekend. | Talks between the government and some Darfuri groups began in Ethiopia over the weekend. |
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