HUDO Centre Date: 15th April 2020 No.: H.K/PS/14/020 PRESS STATEMENT (For immediate release) ARREST OF MR. EDRISS ELBUR BY RSF IN DAMAZIN, SUDAN On 9th April 2020, Rapid Support Force (RSF) in Damazin of Blue Nile State arrested Mr. Edriss Elbur and detained him for two days before releasing him. The arrest was because of the article he had posted on Facebook. On 9th April 2020 morning hours, a group of RSF soldiers in Damazin arrested Mr. Edriss Elbur under the direct orders from Major/ Faiz Balla the commander of RSF in Blue Nile State. Mr. Elbur was arrested from his shop at Damazin market and taken to RSF detention cell at Ashara Beiut neighbourhood where he was confined with other nine (9) RSF soldiers who were breaching military laws. During detention, Mr. Elbur was interrogated about the article he had posted on Facebook criticizing the acts of RSF commandant for not respecting the procedures during fuel distribution exercise in one of the petrol stations in town. Mr. Elbur was intimidated and warned not to write and post such articles again, and then he was released on 11th April 2020. Mr. Edriss Elbur Ahmed is 40 years old, a trader and social activist. Damazin is the capital town of Blue Nile State. RSF is a government militia led in Blue Nile State by Major/ Faiz Balla Ali (a former locality governor during the regime of former president Al Bashir). HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;  Sudan government to hold to account the RSF commandant in Blue Nile for Mr. Edriss Elbur’s arrest and intimidation.  Sudan government to preserve and protect the civilians’ rights.  Sudan government to stop security forces and its militias from violating rights of citizens especially in conflict areas.  Sudan government to dissolve and disarm all the government militias. End: For more information please write to: hudo2009@gmail.com