HUDO Centre Date: 4th June 2024 No.: H.K/UA/07/024 URGENT APPEAL SAF ARRESTED MR. ALI HAJO IN AL-KURMUK, SUDAN On 28th May 2024, the Sudan Armed Force (SAF) in Al-Kurmuk town arrested Mr. Ali Hajo while he was traveling to Ethiopia. He was accused of going to attend TAGADOM conference. Since then, he has been held incommunicado. This raised fear that he could be undergoing torture. On 28th May 2024, Mr. Ali Hajo arrived at Al-Kurmuk town from Damazin city, he was on his way to Ethiopia by road. On arrival, he passed by the Sudan Armed Force - Military Intelligence (SAF-MI) office to get the permission to cross the border to Ethiopia, because this is one of the measures imposed by the security of Sudan for the cross-border movement between the two countries. Mr. Hajo was subsequently arrested by SAF-MI at the MI office and since then, he has been detained at the military garrison in Al-Kurmuk. Nobody has been permitted to visit him. This raised fear among his family and friends that he could be undergoing torture. A reliable source in Al-Kurmuk informed HUDO Centre that; ‘the cause of Hajo arrest that SAF-MI believes he was on his way to attend the founding conference of TAGADOM in Adiss Ababa which was going on by then’. HUDO Centre is concerned about the safety of civilians in Sudan during this difficult period of fighting between SAF and RSF and calls for the following:  The Sudan Armed Forces in Blue Nile to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Ali Hajo and any other civilians that could be under their detention.  The commander of SAF in Blue Nile State to investigate the circumstance behind Mr. Hajo arrest and make the findings public.  SAF in Blue Nile to respect the freedom of movement.  The Sudan Armed Forces to stop the arrest of civilians.