HUDO Centre Date: 9th December 2020 No. H.K/UA/13/020 URGENT APPEAL ARREST OF TRAVELLERS BY SAF IN AL-ABBASIYA, SUDAN On 6th December 2020, SAF/MI in Al-Abbasiya arrested more than twenty travelers including women and children. The truck which they were travelling in was also packed/ retained. The reason for the arrest was not given. Women and children were released the following day (7th December) but the males are still under detention. On 6th December 2020, more than twenty passengers traveling on a truck from Haiban to Khartoum were blocked by Sudan Armed Force/ Military Intelligence at Al-Abbasiya town and forced to drive to the military base in town. All passengers were detained and their truck was packed at the military base. On the evening of 7th December 2020, the women and children were released after spending a night in a cell. The men stayed under detention with little amount of food and poor conditions. The reason behind their arrest is unknown and no case against them was filed. The detained people are: Kuku Abdalla, Rashid Younis Osman, Steven Adam Ajaweed, Elsir Adam Ajaweed, William Musa Ajaweed and Mamoun Abdalla Elamein. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians in conflict areas. HUDO calls upon:  The military authority in Al-Abbasiya to immediately release or to transfer them to the courts of law if there is a case against them.  Sudan government to hold to account SAF commandant in Al-Abbasiya for this arrest.  Sudan government to end the state of emergency in conflict areas which enabled MI to arrest civilians at will.  Sudan government to respect the constitutional rights of citizens  Sudan government to respect its international obligations.