[JURIST] The Sudanese government has made a formal request to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) [official website] to close their human rights office in Khartoum following accusations of worrying abuses and violations by their peacekeepers. This request [Guardian report] is believed to stem from the strained relationship between UNAMID and Sudan after accusations surfaced of a mass rape in a Darfur village said to have been perpetrated by Sudanese troops. Investigations made into the mass rape by UNAMID produced no evidence, but internal reports allege governmental intimidation of victims to prevent them from coming forward. Sudan’s foreign ministry confirmed that the request was made, but denied that it was motivated by the investigation into the alleged rape. According to the foreign ministry, the request had been under discussion for years, and was based on the reasoning that the office was outside their mandate.

The Sudanese region is one that has been burdened by conflict, even after the secession [JURIST backgrounder] of South Sudan. In 2007 UNAMID was established in Africa as a peacekeeping operation meant to promote human rights. However, since its institution, UNAMID has been the target of many negative sentiments and attacks in the Sudanese region. In mid-2013 several peacekeepers in the Darfur area were killed [JURIST report], compelling the ICC to label such acts as war crimes.