Sudan asks U.N. mission to leave Darfur

CAIRO - The spokesman for the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur says the Sudanese government has asked his mission to prepare plans to exit the country.

The snub comes amid tension between the mission and the government over an investigation into allegations of mass rape in the violence-torn western region of Darfur. Initially, the mission was denied access to Tabit, a North Darfur village where allegations surfaced in media that women were raped by government-allied troops. Following a brief visit, escorted by government troops, the mission said it had not immediately discovered evidence of rape.

Spokesman Ashraf Eissa said Sunday the formal memo to leave was delivered last week. The mission's mandate expires in March. About 40 countries have contributed military personnel or police to the peacekeeping force.

The U.N. Security council asked the organization's secretary-general to prepare an exit strategy by February.

The U.N. mission in Darfur has long faced troubles. Gunmen ambushed a United Nations peacekeeping team in July of 2013 in Darfur, killing seven Tanzanians and wounding another 17 people in the deadliest ever single attack on the international force in the country.

In December 2012, four peacekeepers were killed and one injured in Darfur when one of the peacekeepers serving with the joint U.N.-African Union force opened fire at his fellow peacekeepers.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in the Darfur conflict since rebels took up arms against the Sudanese government nearly 10 years ago, accusing it of discrimination and neglect. Violence has tapered off, but clashes continue.