Investigation Into A Mass Rape of Women and Girls in North Darfur Town

                                 
   Claims of the mass rape of 200 women and girls in a town in North Darfur continue increasing concerns in the war-torn Sudanese region as the African Union, the United Nations mission in North Darfur hybrid presses ahead with its endeavors to reveal further insight on the reports.

   Acting Joint Special Representative of Unamid, Abiodun Bashua, had met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan on the allegations as part of its ongoing inquiry into the events in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
  "The Mission continues its efforts to shed light into the reports of alleged rape and to get access to potential witnesses and victims so that they can conduct a thorough investigation," UN Spokesperson Mr.Farhan
Haq told reporters. "The Mission is also concerned by reports in the media about the alleged detainment of villagers in Tabit and is seeking to verify them."
Unamid had announced deep concern about the allegations of mass rapes in Tabit, located 45 kilometers south-west of El Fasher, in North Darfur, announcing that it would conduct a thorough investigation into the veracity of the allegations.

   Recently, the Mission announced it had started an investigation in Tabit but said that its team had discovered no evidence confirming the claims and got no information regarding the purported acts. Village community leaders to Unamid emphasized that they exist peacefully together with local military authorities in the area.

   Nevertheless, the Mission in a statement, "further follow-up activities on the matter" would be done, including possible investigations and patrols, in coordination with relevant host authorities and in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement between the Government of Sudan and Unamid .

   The UN Security Council noted that legitimate access to Tabit and its people, for Unamid is "essential to conduct a full investigation into the allegations in order to determine their veracity, if verified, to ensure accountability."

   Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply troubled by the relentless assertions, and urged government authorities to grant unfettered access to the town so that investigators can verify the reports.

"Only a full examination by Unamid will help shed light over these serious allegations," the UN chief stressed, as he urged the Government of Sudan to grant access Unamid liberated, without further delay to Tabit and its population so that these reports can be confirmed.

    UN spokesman Farhan Haq declared that Unamid had again requested for access to Tabit and will deploy a team immediately, once such access has been allowed.

   Unamid initially visited Tabit, located 45 kilometers south-west of El Fasher, in North Darfur, on November 09, after declaring that it would conduct an investigation into the veracity of the allegation. However, the heavy presence of police and military in Tabit made a conclusive investigation difficult.

   Zainab Hawa Bangura, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, also expressed concern about the allegations and called on the Government of Sudan to allow urgent and unhindered access for an investigation.

   Tensions have been simmering across Darfur over the recent months. Last October, an attack on peacekeepers by armed militants Unamid claimed the lives of three peacekeepers.

    The UN estimates that approximately 385,000 people have been displaced by the clash between the Government of Sudan and the armed movements in Darfur since the start of 2014. The world body has repeatedly called on all sides to join negotiations aimed at attaining permanent ceasefire and peace for Thorough the people of Darfur, which has witnessed battling since 2003.
    Unamid, formally founded in 2007, has been mandated to support humanitarian assistance, to protect civilians, to monitor and verify the implementation of agreements, to assist in the political reconciliation and contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, following the 2003 civil war between the Government of Sudan and rebel militias and other armed groups.

UN peacekeepers

News Report 1:

"Soldiers raped 200 girls and women in Darfur," The Times (London), November 06, 2014; Ruth Maclean, Johannesburg

    Sudanese soldiers raped more than 200 girls and women in Darfur last week, according to villagers. An elder from Tabit said a military leader and a nearby garrison accused the villagers of harboring a missing soldier and gave them until nightfall to surrender him. The villagers had no information of the soldier, when nightfall came, soldiers surrounded Tabit, beat the men and chased them away, before assaulting the women and girls, including eight grade school pupils. The commander, armed with a machinegun and joined by some of his men, came back to the village and apologized, explaining that the missing soldier had been found.
    He asked for the names of the women and girls and offered to take them to a military hospital in North Darfur. In the immediate aftermath of the attack his soldiers had prevented the women from leaving the village to seek medical treatment. "We denied his apology," the elder said. "We demand the development of an independent investigation into the crime, and to bring the culprits to justice."

Families have fled Tabit for near adjacent refugee camps.

News Report 2:

"Arab coalition calls for a fair inquiry into North Darfur mass rape" TABIT (Nov 07, 2014)

    The Arab Coalition for Darfur (ACD) has condemned the mass rape of girls and women in Tabit, North Darfur, and described the crime by the Sudanese soldiers as "brutal". Radio Dabanga will come with a full report of the events, as well as detailed testimonies from victims, the next following days.

    Last Friday evening, members of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) invaded Tabit, south-west of El Fasher, and raped numerous women and girls in the town. The husbands and men were dispersed and compelled to stay outside. Around 4 am on Saturday, the soldiers moved back to the nearby military garrison, leaving behind the wounded victims. According to a Sheikh in Tabit, about 200 women were raped and molested. 71 of the women were raped girls aging between 12 and 17 years, and eight of the victims were students at a middle school. The other victims were married, or older women."This systematic crime, this rape and other war crimes such as the crimes against human rights in Darfur, reveal that the Khartoum regime is lying if it says it wants to achieve justice in Darfur," the ACD said in a press statement today.

    The coalition expressed its regrets that the Sudanese authorities have prevented the arrival of a Unamid patrol in Tabit to investigate the allegation. The Unamid said on Wednesday that a confirmation patrol was denied access by Sudanese military at a checkpoint to Tabit on Tuesday.

    The ACD called on the authorities to conduct a fair and thorough investigation, urging the civil society as well as the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Sudan and international organizations to stop such violations of human rights. The coalition further requested from the Sudanese government to quit supporting "these militias" and called for their demilitarization, and to bring the culprits to justice.

Sudanese soldiers 

    The Sheikh in Tabit reported earlier this week that a number of families has moved to Zamzam camp for the displaced, also in El Fasher. Others are preparing themselves to leave Tabit area. He stressed that until now, no Unamid forces or Sudanese authorities have arrived to the area.