HUDO Centre Date: 15th September 2023 No. H.K/UA/13/023 URGENT APPEAL SAF ARRESTED CIVILIANS BECAUSE OF THEIR ETHNIC TRIBE IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN On 5th May 2023, SAF soldiers arrested three youth from the market in Khartoum because of their tribe (Rezaigat tribe). Since then, the detainees were kept incommunicado at Alkadaro military base in Khartoum North and any attempt for releasing them was rejected by SAF. It is feared that they could be undergoing torture. On 5th May 2023, Sudan Armed Force (SAF) soldiers arrested Mr. Saleh Mohammed Ahmed, Mr. Hafiz Abdalla Abdelhamid and Eisa Ali Ahmed from Alkadaro market. They were arrested while shopping and on their way home after attending the evening prayers at the mosques. They were arrested because they had answered by yes, we are Rezaigat when asked by the SAF soldiers about their tribe. The three youth had earlier fled from their neighbourhoods in Khartoum during the mass displacement at the first days of the conflict. They were hosted by their relative; Mr. Saleh Abdelrahman Abdalla (the Imam of mosque). Mr. Saleh (the host) together with some of the residents (neighbours) had approached Alkadaro military base in order to release them. The military personnel agreed and then afterwards rejected the request. Since then, the three (3) detainees have been held incommunicado which raised the fear that they could be undergoing torture. HUDO Centre is concerned about the safety of civilians in Sudan and calls for the following:  Sudan Armed Forces to stop arresting civilians arbitrarily.  Sudan Armed Force to stop targeting people on ethnical or tribal bases.  The Sudan Armed Force in Khartoum State to unconditionally release the three youth or refer them to the courts of law if there is a genuine case against them.  The SAF commander in Khartoum State to investigate the circumstances of this arrest.