before releasing them. They falsely accuse them of causing insecurity. Recently, SAF was targeting people from Darfur accusing them of being connected to RSF”. Mr. Hassan Adam (35 years old) and Mr. Ali Jibril (37 years old) are from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state. They are relatives, currently residing in Talodi locality. For more than two years they have been working in Altegola goldmine zone. Mr. Hassan is known as the owner of the mentioned well/ hole. SAF officers in Talodi used to impose taxes on the goldmine sectors over the owners of the wells, traders and the labourers reasoning that they (SAF) offer them protection/ security. 2.1.2 Arrest of traders and confiscation of their goods by SAF in Talodi On 13th January 2024, twenty (20) traders were arrested with their motorbikes (tuk tuks) which were carrying fuel barrels (three barrel on each). They were detained at Talodi SAF garrison. They were later released (same day) but their motorbikes, goods especially fuel were impounded. On 19th January 2024, SAF released the impounded motorbikes and fuel but it was inadequate compared to what was confiscated. Each barrel of fuel was less by more than eighty (80) litres. The following are the names of some traders who were briefly detained; • Eltahir Mustafa • Ibrahim Mohammed Abduelrahman • Abas Eisa Abdalla • Mukhtar Juma Abduelrahman • Ismail Abdalla Mohammed • Abduelmajid Elshareef Redwan • Hammad Ahmed Hassan • Adam Abker Yagoub. On 23rd January 2024, eleven (11) traders with seventeen (17) tuk-tuk/ motorbikes loaded with goods were coming back from Yida refugees camp in South Sudan heading to Talodi town. SAF stopped them at a point of Bir-Balaeil (about 20 km south Talodi town) and arrested them. SAF drove them to Talodi military garrison and detained them. On 26th January 2024, the community leaders in Talodi conducted a meeting with the security committee of Talodi locality and demanded that SAF must release the traders and their goods. They reasoned that many areas in South Kordofan during this time of conflict between SAF and RSF depend entirely on essential commodities from neighbouring markets in South 7