Date: 21st October 2019 No. H.K/PR/30/019 PRESS STATEMENT ASSAULT AND INTIMIDATION OF CIVILIANS BY RSF IN TALODI, SUDAN On 19th October 2019, Rapid Support Force (RSF) in Altugula gold mine market of Talodi arrested and tortured Mr. Hussein Nourelgaleil before he managed to flee. Thereafter they fired gun shots which threatened the civilians and caused many to flee the market. Mr. Hussein Nouelgaleil who is known by the nickname’ of Oulo is 31 years old, a civil servant and a member of the executive committee of Talodi Youth Association for Development (TYAD). Altugula gold mine is one of Talodi gold mines in Nuba Mountains. On 19th October 2019, Mr. Hussein together with other two members of TYAD (Mohammed Yagoub and Elsaid Mohammed Gad-Kareem) formally/officially visited Altugula gold mine. While they were discussing the issue (of social peace) with some community leaders at the gold mine, the RSF soldiers raided the meeting area, arrested Mr. Hussein and brutally beat/ assaulted him. Mr. Hussein managed to flee from them and entered the nearby Military Intelligence (MI) office. The MI soldiers protected him and later sent him to Talodi hospital where he has been admitted due to the assault wounds (trauma) caused by RSF. Mr. Hussein’s face was wounded and hematomas in different parts of his body. After the MI offered Mr. Hussein the needed protection, the RSF soldiers started shooting randomly in air which threatened people in the market. People had to run/flee leaving their belongings behind. A reliable source informed HUDO that, three days back, RSF soldiers came on more than ten vehicles to Altugula gold mine. That they had sniper guns, and other machine guns were mounted on vehicles and their faces were covered with masks. The residents suspect that this incident could be a consequence for the recently ended Talodi protest. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;    Sudan government to urgently and seriously consider the community’s demands and rights. Sudan government should ensure the safety of people exercising their rights of assembly Sudan government to hold to account RSF commanders and soldiers who intimidated the public in Altugula gold mine, violated Mr Hussein rights and subjected him to torture. End 1