Sudan denies UNAMID access to Tabit village to investigate rape cases

Khartoum-SudaneseOnline-Sudanese authorities denied The African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) on Sunday access to enter Tabit village in north Darfur to investigate a report that government troops raped 200 women and girls
UNAMID team was barred entry to Tabit on November 4, but returned five days later and found no evidence of the mass rape, promising to follow up with further investigations.
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.
Last month, an internal U.N. review found that UNAMID had failed to provide U.N. headquarters in New York with full reports on attacks against civilians and peacekeepers. The review had been ordered in response to media reports alleging that UNAMID intentionally covered up details of deadly attacks.