(WASHINGTON) – A Sudanese scholar has called on the US president Barak 
Obama to lead international robust measures to protect Darfurians, following the reports about an alleged mass rape in North Darfur.
On Tuesday 4 November, Sudanese government forces denied a patrol of the African Union-United Nations hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID) access to Tabit, in North Darfur to investigate reports about a mass rape of 200 women and girls.
“The Mission leadership is calling on authorities of the Government of Sudan to grant UNAMID’s unhindered access to all Darfur, especially to areas were alleged incidents affecting civilians have been reported, in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA),” said the UNMAID in a statement released on Wednesday.
“I call upon President Obama to fulfill his old promise to the people of Darfur by leading international robust and swift measures to provide a full protection for the people of Darfur, under Chapter7 of the United Nations Charter,” said Ahmed Hussain Adam, a Visiting Fellow, at the Institute for African Development (IAD), Cornell University New York
“These measures should include a new intervening force if necessary. Darfur should fully recognized as a case of Responsibility to Protect,” Adam further said.
He told Sudan Tribune that he reached the victims of the rape and he heard “horrific accounts” about the incident committed by the Sudanese government soldiers in the area.
“I spoke with many victims in Tabit, they told me their horrific stories and experiences: More than 650 solider in about 25 vehicles attacked the Tabit village from all directions at Friday 31 October 8pm (Sudan-time)”.
“They perpetrators beat and thrown the men outside the houses to focus on raping the women. The course of this horrific crime took until next day-Saturday at 4am,” he added.
The Sudanese scholar said the female victims of Tabit atrocity should be protected, sheltered, medically treated and fully compensated according to international standards.
He pointed to the responsibility of the government saying these atrocities are part of the regime strategy and campaign against the people of Darfur.
“The regime’s armed forces and its militias such as Janjaweed have been using mass and orchestrated rape and violence against women as instrument of war and a tool of terror,” he said.
On the other hand, Adam blamed the international community, saying the Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) and its UNAMID also “should be held responsible for failing to protect the people of Darfur”.
However, he called on the UN Human Rights Council and the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict to take clear measures on this incident according to her mandate.
He went further to call on the International Criminal Court to probe the alleged crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
(ST)