UNAMID peacekeepers should not promote impunity in Darfur – Independent investigations needed!

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) fears that the international peacekeeping mission might be promoting impunity in Darfur. Thus, there should be new rules for UNAMID to investigate alleged human rights violations in western Sudan. "UNAMID's misconduct in the recent investigations concerning the alleged gang rape in Tabit (North Darfur) must have consequences for its future work – otherwise the peacekeepers will lose even more credibility," said Ulrich Delius, the STP's Africa-consultant, in Göttingen on Friday. Once again, he demanded independent investigations of the alleged mass rape.

On Monday, the UNAMID peacekeeping forces declared that they had found no clear signs or evidence that Sudanese soldiers could have raped more than 200 women and girls in Tabit on October 31 and November 1, 2014. The statement was mainly based on interrogations of the local population – which, however, were overseen by Sudanese soldiers.

"The UN peacekeepers should not become accomplices of an army that systematically covers up serious human rights violations and pursues witnesses of such crimes," criticized Delius. Obviously, the UNAMID-representatives had not opposed of the fact that each of the investigating teams had been accompanied by five armed Sudanese soldiers who took notes of the villagers' statements. One of the soldiers even filmed the questioning of the intimidated people of Tabit. "This is a clear violation of the fundamental principles of witness protection and proportionality," said Delius. Later, villagers reported that the garrison's Major had called in a meeting of Tabit's residents the evening before, warning everyone not to give the UNAMID researchers any information about the occurrences.

"The Sudanese army is systematically trying to intimidate the witnesses to the alleged crime and to cover up the traces," criticized Delius. Between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning this week, the army arrested 26 villagers who were suspected to have passed on information to the radio station Radio Dabanga and the television channel Al Arabiya TV. According to eyewitnesses, the detainees were intimidated and even received lashes. Some of them were released by now. They reported that a Sudanese officer accused them of having contacted the media instead of simply accepting the Commander's apology on November 2. Meanwhile, about 150 of the soldiers who were probably responsible for the crime have been moved to the provincial capital of El Fasher.

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Africa department, is available for further questions: +49 551 49906 27 or afrika@gfbv.de. 

Header Photo: United Nations Photo/Flickr