HUDO Centre Date: 10th September 2019 No. H.K/UA/18/019 URGENT ACTION POTENTIAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN TALODI RESIDENTS ON A SIT DOWN DEMONSRATION AND RSF SOLDIERS IN SUDAN Since5th September 2019, Talodi residents together with Aleri and Kalogi people went on a sit down demonstration at Talodi Locality building opposing the use of cyanide by gold mining companies. The Rapid Support Force (RSF) threatened them which raised fear that the experienced massacre of 3rd June 2019 in Khartoum could be repeated. Talodi town is the capital of Talodi locality in South Kordufan. It’s located in a distance of 81 km South East of Kadogli. In Talodi there are six traditional gold mines whereby companies like Alsunot, Abarsi, Lanos, Aldowalia and Elgenaid established factories. Some of these factories use cyanide without taking the safety and pre-cautionary measures. They disregard or neglect the community’s concerns especially in the absence of the local authority responsible for protecting lives and environment. On 31st August 2019, Abarsi Company used five persons in offloading a truck full of sacks. As they carried the sacks, they felt burning of their skin on the backs and the following day their back skin changed colour. They started to vomit and experienced diarrhea. This case has alarmed Talodi people about these gold mining companies using dangerous materials/ substances. On 5th September 2019, Talodi people carried out a peaceful sit in demonstration at Talodi locality premises. On 9th Sep 2019, a group of other people from Aleri joined them expressing their support and on 10th Sep 2019 other people from Kalogi also joined the sit in. On 8thSeptember 2019, a committee formed by South Kordufan governor came to Talodi as part of their investigations in the mining sector. They were accompanied by Talodi locality security committee and youth from Talodi community. They had inspected Abarsi Company but, when they were entering Elgenaid company premises, RSF soldiers in two vehicles stopped them. The RSF soldiers barely allowed the governor’s team and Talodi security committee to enter whilst obstructed Talodi youth to enter and threatened to arrest them. On 9th September 2019, the RSF soldiers fired bullets (intensively) in the air while driving recklessly inside Talodi town. This was the same day, Talodi people had submitted their demands to South Kordufan state governor through Talodi locality security committee affirming their commitment to sit in up to their demand fulfilled. One of Talodi dwellers informed HUDO that, the RSF soldiers were paid high incentives to keep Elgenaid factory in place regardless of the resistance. HUDO calls upon;    Sudan government to take the community’s concern and demands seriously. Sudan government to hold to account RSF commanders and soldiers account who intimidated the public. The civil society organization, media and lawyers in Sudan to give the case the needed support and coverage. 1