ARMED SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM ROBBED TRAVELERS NEAR KOSTI, SUDAN
<p><b>No.: H.K/PS/13/023 <br> 9th April 2023</b><br> <b> PRESS STATEMENT</b><br> <b> ARMED SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM ROBBED TRAVELERS NEAR KOSTI, SUDAN</b><br> On 6th March 2023, a group of armed SAF and RSF soldiers with face masks stopped and robbed<br> passengers near Kosti town. The passenger vehicles were travelling from Al-Abbasiya to Kosti<br> when they were violently stopped by the soldiers who first shot bullets. The case was reported<br> to police at Kosti town, but the police declined to file/record it.<br> On 6th March 2023, a group of about twenty (20) armed soldiers in Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and<br> Rapid Support Forces (RSF) uniforms forced six (6) passenger vehicles to stop by shooting in the air.<br> The soldiers had face masks and they were riding motorbikes. The passenger vehicles were travelling<br> from Al-Abbasiya to Kosti and they were stopped at a point near Al-Arad village. The attackers<br> (soldiers) robbed the travelers of their smartphones and money at gunpoint. Thereafter, the six vehicles<br> with the travelers continue their journey to Kosti town where they reported the case at Kosti police. But,<br> the police at Kosti town refused (declined) to record (file) the case reasoning that the incident scene<br> was out of their jurisdiction. Instead, the police instructed the victims to report the case to Tendelti police<br> which is more than seventy (70) kilometres away from Kosti yet within the same state of White Nile.<br> A lawyer informed HUDO Centre that; <i>Kosti police does not have a right to push the victims away. That,</i><br> <i>the police should have communicated with the concerned police station and proceed on their behalf.</i><br> Al-Abbasiya is the main town of Al-Abbasiya locality in south Kordufan State/ Nuba Mountains. Kosti<br> town is located in White Nile State and it’s connected to Eastern region of South Kordufan State in a<br> distance of 150 km north east Al-Abbasiya. Al-Arad is a village at about 50 km from Kosti town.<br> HUDO Centre is concerned about the security situation and the safety of civilians in conflict areas and<br> calls upon:<br> · The head of police in White Nile State to solve such issues and to clearly investigate this case.<br> · The senior prosecutor in White Nile State to ensure that there is rule of law.<br> · The ministry of defense to control soldiers, investigate this case and to ensure that there is safety<br> of civilians.<br> <b>End: </b>For more information, please write to: hudo2009@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p>