HUDO Centre Date: 5th August 2025 No.: H.K/PS/26/025 PRESS STATEMENT (For Immediate Release) SAF ARRESTED SIX YOUTHS IN GADEIR LOCALITY, SUDAN On 12th July 2025, Sudan Armed Force (SAF) soldiers arrested six (6) youths in Gadeir locality for opposing the misuse of cyanide in gold-mining operations. The arrested youth were transferred to Abu Jibaiha military garrison and released the following day under public pressure. The official given reason was political. On 12th July 2025, Sudan Armed Force (SAF) soldiers arrested six (6) youths in the Gadeir for opposing the use of cyanide in gold-mining operations. The arrested youths were later transferred to Abu-Jibaiha SAF garrison and accused of being affiliated to the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC). The gold mining companies use cyanide in open pits yet the practice is harmful to the environment, humans and animals. These (below) are the names of the arrested youths: 1. Mr. Noah Abdalla, 45 years old and Teacher. 2. Mr. Babiker Mohamed Mudawi (34 years old). 3. Mr. Al-Wali Musa Saleh, (32 years old) 4. Mr. Ali Omar Al-Zubair (31 years old). 5. Mr. Yousif Wad Al-Nos (35 years old). 6. Mr. Omar Musa (with a nickname of Al-Kewang), 37 years old. On 13th July 2025, the citizens of Gadeir organized a protest demanding the release of the arrested youths. Because of the protesters’ pressure, all the arrested six (6) youths were released in the evening (same day of the protest). An activist from Gadeir informed HUDO Centre that; “All the active gold-mines in the localities of Gadir, Talodi and Aleri are using toxic materials such as cyanide. That the operations are carried out in open ponds (mud pits) which do not take into account of minimum safety standards. This exposes the lives of both human and animals to risks and environmental degradation. The arrested youths are active in sensitize the public about these risks”.