HUDO Centre Date: 25th February 2020 No.: H.K/PS/07/020 PRESS STATEMENT PASSENGER DETAINED AND INSULTED AT A CHECKPOINT IN KOSTI, SUDAN On 17th February 2020, Mr. Hassan Elamein Suliman was verbally insulted and arrested from a traveling bus by security personnel at a checkpoint in Kosti town. He was released after two hours under pressure from fellow passengers who refused to travel without him on board. On 17th February 2020, Mr. Hassan Elamein Suliman was traveling from Abu-Gebaiha town of South Kordufan/ Nuba Mountains to Khartoum with public transport (a bus). When the bus stopped at the western checkpoint of Kosti town, three security personnel in civilian clothes entered the bus for the regular checks. On reaching Mr. Hassan’s seat, one of them (security personnel) started bullying him by asking questions like, “why are you so black”…”are you a Sudanese”? Thereafter, Mr. Hassan showed them his identity card but they insisted on taking him to their office. While at their office, he was insulted further and was referred to as a slave (Abid). He was detained at the security checkpoint office for two hours and released after the passengers and their bus refused to go/ leave without him. Mr. Hassan Elamein Suliman Natu (29 years) is from Teera/ Nuba tribe and a university graduate. Kosti is town in White Nile State, buses from Abu-Gebaiha to Khartoum pass through it. Now days, the checkpoints are manned (managed) by Sudan Armed Force (SAF) and Rapid Support Force (RSF) soldiers. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians from conflict areas and calls upon;  Sudan government to hold to account the security personnel those responsible for Mr. Hassan’s detention and oral assault.  Sudan government to standby citizens on the rights of movement and to ensure that security agencies respect it.  Sudan government to stop any kinds of discriminative acts against citizens from conflict areas or based on ethnicity.  Sudan government to take stern measures in combating any racial discriminative behaviors.  Sudan government to respect its international obligations towards their citizens. End: For more information please write to: hudo2009@gmail.com