Unamid claims presence of Sudanese soldiers affected villagers' response

The United Nation's agency in North Darfur, the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur's (Unamid) internal report, in view of the alleged attacks on the villagers by Sudanese soldiers, suggests that the presence of the soldiers during its interviews affected villagers' responses.

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Unamid's report states that no evidence of alleged cases of rape by the army in Tabit has been found. It describes the claims as "unjustified and unreasonable". However, there have been widespread disagreements around these claims, the Independent reported.

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According to Unamid, the interview with Tabit residents came more than a week after the incident, and were carried out alongside government forces. Though the agency had tried to reach Tabit on 4 November initially, it was finally granted permission only five days later. It further said none of interviewee confirmed that any incidents of sexual violence took place in Tabit.

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However, sharing harrowing experience with Radio Dabanga, one woman said that four soldiers entered their house deliberately and had beaten her husband before raping their daughters. This was done with all girls and women in the area, she added. Further, Radio Dabanga's director Hildebrand Bijleveld stated that in an attempt to identify the informant, people who were interviewed have been arrested by the Sudanese.

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According to the UN envoy on sexual violence, Zainab Hawa Bengura, heavy military presence during the interviews raised concerns that the facts have been compromised.

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had initially refused to approve an investigation into Unamid, but in July an internal inquiry was set up. Its findings are yet to be publicly disclosed.