Sudanese Government demands (UNAMID) to prepare “an exit strategy”

Khartoum-SudaneseOnline-Sudanese Government demanded on Friday the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID) to prepare “an exit strategy” and to end its mission in Darfur gradually.
Sudan’s Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Abdallah al-Azraq, announced in a press conference that “Sudan formally requested - I formally requested - that UNAMID make an exit strategy. That does not mean it will pack up its things and say goodbye,"
Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned on Friday foreign ambassadors in the country, including the U.S. and European Union ambassadors and senior officials of international organizations and told them about Khartoum’s decision and refuted rape of 200 women in a village in North Darfur
Azraq said Sudan had rejected a fresh UN request to visit the village of Tabit, saying, “We look at this statement as an attempt to create an atmosphere for further escalation and decisions against Sudan.”
Al-Azraq denied UNAMID to investigate again the case, considering that inquiry again is humiliation for Sudan’s government and violation of the country sovereignty
“We look at this statement as an attempt to create an atmosphere for further escalation and decisions against Sudan.” He added
Last month, an internal UN review said UNAMID had failed to provide UN headquarters in New York with full reports on attacks against civilians and peacekeepers. The review was ordered after media reports alleged that UNAMID had deliberately covered up details of deadly attacks.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Yousif al-Kordofani, said on Sunday that that his government decided not to allow the mission to visit the village another time”.
“The accusations of mass rape have been met with the strong resentment of the people of the village of Tabit and the surrounding villages and provoked their anger, raising tensions in the area,” Kordofani said in a statement, suggesting it was too dangerous for UNAMID peacekeepers to visit.
He added UNAMID had also sought permission from the regional authorities in Darfur to visit the area on November 15 while discussions were ongoing with the foreign ministry about a request to visit on November 17.

Arabic Forum