Date: 22ndDecember 2020 No. H.K/PS/49/020 PRESS STATEMENT DRIVER KILLED AND PASSENGERS ROBBED BY ARMED PEOPLE IN GADEIR LOCALITY, SUDAN On 20th December 2020, Mr. Osman Mohammed Elhassan (truck driver) was killed and passengers on the truck were robbed by eight armed people covered with masks near Kologi town. The case was reported to Kologi police but they did not follow up. On 20thDecember 2020, a commercial truck was traveling from Abu-Jibaiha to Eljadeid gold mining area in Gadeir locality, the truck was attacked by eight armed people covering their faces with masks at a place close to Um-Elsheikh village near Kologi/ Kalogi town. The attackers shot and killed the driver (Mr. Osman Mohammed Elhassan) and robbed under gunpoint the passengers of their valuable belongings (like money and smart phones). The case was reported at Kologi town police but there is no effort that has been made to arrest the perpetrators. The deceased driver Mr. Osman Mohammed Elhassan known by a nickname Kabeilla was 38 years old. Kologi is a capital of Gadeir locality in Nuba Mountains/ South Kordufan State. Um-Elsheikh is a village Southeast of Kologi town in a distance of about 15 km. Abu-Jibaiha is a town in South Kordufan in a distance approximately of 60 km Northeast of Kologi town HUDO is very concerned about the situation and lives of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;  Sudan government at state and central level to urgently investigate the state of insecurity in South Kordufan/ Nuba Mountains and to solve it.  Sudan government to ensure that police executes their duties responsibly and observe the rule of law.  Sudan government to ensure the protection and safety of people in conflict areas.  Sudan government to dissolve and disarm the government militias and withdraw unlicensed weapons from the public.  Sudan government to respect its international obligations towards citizens. End: For more information please write to hudo2009@gmail.com 1