HUDO Centre Date: 30th January 2024 No.: H.K/PS/02/024 PRESS STATEMENT SAF ARRESTED THREE ACTIVISTS IN DAMAZIN, SUDAN On 14th January 2024, Sudan Armed Force (SAF) soldiers arrested three (3) activists from their homes in Damazin. The activists were interrogated about their engagements with the resistance committees before releasing them the same day (evening). On 14th January 2024, soldiers from Sudan Armed Force (SAF) arrested Mr. Bahaa-Eldin Mukhtar, Mr. Abu Murtada Jagdoul and Mr. Ahmed Jaafar from their homes. SAF soldiers pretended that they were inviting them to a meeting at SAF military garrison in Damazin. The three were interrogated about their activities with the resistance committees and accused by distancing themselves from supporting SAF in their war with RSF. They were detained the whole day and released in the evening. An activist from Damazin talked to HUDO saying that, the three activists are members of the Emergency room for sheltering displaced people in Damazin and particularly managing Alnahda neighbourhood IDPs shelter centre. “I believe they were arrested because they have resisted SAF control over the shelter centres as it’s a civil society initiative”. The three activists are known in Damazin town as social activists without any political affiliations. Damazin is the capital city of Blue Nile State. 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 Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Damazin to immediately and unconditionally release any other civilians that could be under their detention.  The commander of SAF in Blue Nile state to investigate the circumstances that led to the arrest of those activists and make the findings public.  The Sudanese Armed Forces to stop the arrest of civilians. End: For more information, please write to hudo2009@gmail.com