SAF CONDUCTED ARREST OPERATIONS IN TEGMALA, SUDAN

<p>         <b>No.: H.K/UA/09/024                                                                                                                                              Date: 4th August 2024</b></p> <h5>                                                                                    <b>URGENT APPEAL</b></h5> <h5>                            <b>SAF CONDUCTED ARREST OPERATIONS IN TEGMALA, SUDAN</b></h5> <p>      <b>On 28th July 2024, SAF brutally arrested around twenty-five (25) persons in Tegmala without giving a reason. The detainees were driven to the military garrison of Abu-Jibaiha where they are held incommunicado. Their families are concerned that the detainees could be undergoing torture.</b></p> <p>     On 28th July 2024 morning hours, armed Sudan Armed Force (SAF) soldiers came on four landcruiser vehicles to Tegmala village and passed to Tegmala military garrison. In the afternoon of the same day, more SAF soldiers came and raided the houses in the village causing chaos among residents. According to the eye witnesses, they arrested about twenty-five (25) people (the youth) while beating them. Thereafter, the soldiers cut the victims clothes and used them for blindfolding their eyes and tying them. The detainees were driven while guarded to Abu-Jibaiha military garrison. Since then, nobody has been allowed to visit them.</p> <p>  This raised fear that they could be undergoing torture. The reason behind the arrest is unknown. On 29th July 2024, the community leaders of Tegmala formed a committee and approached the military commandant in Abu-Jibaiha. But there was no positive response. The following are some of names of the detained people; Abubaker Mohammed Elmahadi, Elamein Adam Flshafee, Hassan Elmakseek, Haraba, Fatehi Tebaiq, Mohammed Eltayeeb Elberjouki, Elneil Musa, Abduelrahman Hamza, Daoud Ahmed Julla and Mahadi Elhadoug.</p> <p>  <b>HUDO Centre</b> is concerned about the safety of civilians in Sudan during this difficult period of the conflict/ fighting between SAF and RSF and calls for the following:</p> <p> The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Abu-Jibaiha to immediately and unconditionally release those people (youth) or take them to court.</p> <p> The commander of SAF in South Kordufan State /Nuba Mountains to investigate the Circumstance behind this arrest campaign (operation).</p> <p> The Sudanese Armed Forces to stop the arrest of civilians.</p> <p>  <b>   Additional information:</b></p> <p>Abu-Jibaiha is the capital city of Abu-Jibaiha locality of South Kordufan State/ Nuba Mountains, where the military’s 5th division is located. Tegmala is a village 25 km northwest Abu-Jibaiha with a known weekly market that opens on Sunday. The weekly market is always attended by people from the surrounding villages and towns.</p> <p>   Since the war broke-out between SAF and Rapid Support Force (RSF), SAF in South Kordufan has been targeting people of Hawaza tribe especially the youth (suspecting them to be supporters of RSF). Most of the youth have been arrested, executed or displaced because of SAF. For instance, since April 2024 SAF in Abu- Kershola locality executed, arrested and tortured many were mostly from Hawazma tribe.</p> <p><br></p> <p> <b>The violated rights:</b> Personal freedom</p> <p> Article 46 of the Constitutional Document 2019.</p> <p> Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.</p> <p> Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.</p>