PRISON OVERCROWDED WITH PEOPLE ARRESTED BY SAF IN BLUE NILE, SUDAN

Priority: Medium

Status: Published

No.: H.K/UA/12/024 Date: 11th September 2024 <h5> URGENT APPEAL</h5> <h6> PRISON OVERCROWDED WITH PEOPLE ARRESTED BY SAF IN BLUE NILE, SUDAN</h6> Since 29th June 2024, the arrest operations conducted by Sudan Armed Force’s (SAF) in Blue Nile State significantly increased. This resulted into over-crowding of Roseries prison. There are other detention centres where people are detained in poor conditions. Since the war broke out on 15th April 2023 between Sudan Armed Force (SAF) and Rapid Support Force (RSF), the Blue Nile State government conducted arrest campaign targeting the youth particularly after Mac Abu Shotal joined RSF. Since the 29th June 2024 when RSF attacked and captured Sinja town, the arrest operation increased. The arrest campaign increased further by 23rd July 2024 when RSF attacked some other villages around Damazin in Blue Nile State. The exact number of people detained is unknown, because among them Internally Displaced People-IDPs from Sinar and Sinja (they are unknown/ unrecognized by BN citizens) who came seeking for refuge in Blue Nile State. All the detained people are civilians and SAF accuses them to be collaborators with RSF. The capacity of Roseries prison is one hundred and sixty (160) persons but currently, the number of prisoners/ detainees at Roseries prison is around five hundred and fifty persons (males and six females). This forced the security committee to use a fenced yard (known as hoosh Alestekhbarat) at SAF base in which keeping a big number of detainees (estimated around two hundreds) in a very poor condition. On 28th August 2024, the head of the judiciary in Blue Nile visited the Blue Nile state governor and complained about the crowded Roseries prison. He advised that some detainees should be released due to the bad conditions caused by the crowding and poor feeding of the prisoners. The governor promised to release some of them however, now it is two weeks and no action has been taken while the arrest campaign continues. HUDO Centre is concerned about the safety of civilians in Sudan during this difficult period of fighting between SAF and RSF and calls for the following:  The security committee in Blue Nile State to immediately and unconditionally release all the detainees or take them to the courts of law.  The security committee in Blue Nile State to revoke the three (3) months prison sentence by the emergency order.  The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to stop the intimidation and arrest of civilians. More information: Roseries is the second town in the Blue Nile State and it neighbours Damazin (the state’s capital). Sinar and Sinja towns are in the neighbouring state of Sinar state. They are located in the north of Damazin town at the shores of the Blue Nile River. Since the war broke out between SAF and RSF and particularly after one of the community leaders in Blue Nile (Mac Abu Shotal) joined the RSF, the Blue Nile government placed many stringent measures on the youth (like travel restrictions). They also started to arrest the youth all over the state suspecting them to be having an alliance with RSF. The arrest operations (campaign) significantly increased after RSF had attacked Sinar State (the neighbouring state to Blue Nile). However, in most cases there is no evidence against the arrested youth and no one has been presented before courts of law. Basing on the emergency law (decree), the security committee in Blue Nile state usually issues the three (3) months prison sentence for the activists without taking them before court of law. HUDO Centre has verified the following persons are detained in Roseries prison: Ali Hajo, Eltayeb Hamid Eissa, Abdelhakam Yousif, Basil Taha, Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim, Elnayeer Albashir Elnayeer, Fatah-Alrahman Bakhit, Hassan Ahmed Ali, Ezzeldin Alnaeem, Wisal Ahmed Fadalla (F), Abdalla Elwadeea, Sahnoon, Fawaz Mohammed Nour, Ahmed Alnadeef, Muzamil Mustafa, Mohammed Almubarak,Bashir, Wagdi Omer Badawi, Yahya Hashim, Mohammed Kamal Mohammed Toum, Gisma Damir Juma (F), Tahani Damir Juma (F). The last two female are sisters and they have been imprisoned under the emergency order because of their brother (Abdalla Damir Juma) has joined the RSF. Latterly, the security committee in Blue Nile State has established a unit named the security cell, it consists of SAF- MI, GIS and police. Currently this cell is responsible and leading the arrest campaign. The violated rights: Personal freedom  Article 46 of the Constitutional Document 2019.  Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.  Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

PRISON OVERCROWDED WITH PEOPLE ARRESTED BY SAF IN BLUE NILE, SUDAN

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