No. H.K/PR/30/019
21st October 2019
PRESS STATEMENT
ASSAULT AND INTIMIDATION OF CIVILIANS BY RSF IN TALODI, SUDAN
On 19th October 2019, Rapid Support Force (RSF) in Altugula gold mine market of
Talodi arrested and tortured Mr. Hussein Nourelgaleil before he managed to
flee. Thereafter they fired gun shots which threatened the civilians and caused
many to flee the market. Mr. Hussein Nouelgaleil who is known by the nickname’
of Oulo is 31 years old, a civil servant and a member of the executive
committee of Talodi Youth Association for Development (TYAD). Altugula gold
mine is one of Talodi gold mines in Nuba Mountains. On 19th October 2019, Mr.
Hussein together with other two members of TYAD (Mohammed Yagoub and Elsaid
Mohammed Gad-Kareem) formally/officially visited Altugula gold mine. While they
were discussing the issue (of social peace) with some community leaders at the
gold mine, the RSF soldiers raided the meeting area, arrested Mr. Hussein and
brutally beat/ assaulted him. Mr. Hussein managed to flee from them and entered
the nearby Military Intelligence (MI) office. The MI soldiers protected him and
later sent him to Talodi hospital where he has been admitted due to the assault
wounds (trauma) caused by RSF. Mr. Hussein’s face was wounded and hematomas in
different parts of his body. After the MI offered Mr. Hussein the needed
protection, the RSF soldiers started shooting randomly in air which threatened
people in the market. People had to run/flee leaving their belongings behind. A
reliable source informed HUDO that, three days back, RSF soldiers came on more
than ten vehicles to Altugula gold mine. That they had sniper guns, and other
machine guns were mounted on vehicles and their faces were covered with masks.
The residents suspect that this incident could be a consequence for the
recently ended Talodi protest. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of
civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;
· Sudan government to
urgently and seriously consider the community’s demands and rights.
· Sudan government should
ensure the safety of people exercising their rights of assembly
· Sudan government to hold
to account RSF commanders and soldiers who intimidated the public in Altugula
gold mine, violated Mr Hussein rights and subjected him to torture.