Human Rights Abuses in over the Month of March 20161

Overview During the month of March 2016, SUDO (UK)’s network of human rights monitors have reported and verified 65 incidents of human rights abuses across Sudan involving nine Sudanese states, whilst one such abuse was recorded in South Sudan relating to the arrest of two prominent Sudanese politicians who had participated in the National Dialogue by the security services of the Government of South Sudan. Monitors submitted a further two reports verifying the presence of a heavily armed group in that is allegedly linked to ISIS in Libya, in addition to the troop movement of the Rapid Support Forces in .

Enclosed within the 65 reports pertaining to human rights abuses, SUDO (UK) has assessed that various forces under the authority of the Government of Sudan2 were responsible, as individual entities, for 50 instances of human rights abuses, whilst various militias known collectively as Janjaweed were responsible for ten abuses. Unknown parties committed five such abuses, the various armed opposition movements four3, and the South Sudanese security service one such abuse. Once again it is worth stressing that multiple actors colluded in various incidents resulting in the fact that multiple perpetrators can be responsible for the same incident, hence 70 perpetrators have been identified for 65 human rights abuses.

The 65 reports detail the following: the death 37 civilians and the serious injury of 59; the rape of 14 females including nine minors; the arrest of 28 persons including one detainee being held in a toxic container at the Headquarters in Demazin; 15 reports of aerial bombardment resulting in the minimum use of some 160 bombs; the direct targeting of 30 civilian villages, which have been identified by monitors leading to the destruction of 15 of those villages; five incidents pertaining to press freedom with four newspaper confiscations; three dispersions of peaceful protest; and the denial of external travel to five persons.

1 It is important to note that the number of specific human rights abuses recorded in this document certainly underestimates the total number of abuses and their effects on the civilian population. SUDO (UK) only uses information provided to it by its monitors. 2 Sudanese (15); NISS (12); Military Intelligence (9); Sudanese Armed Forces (5); RSF (4); Police (3); Government Officials (1); and NCP-Students (1). 3 SPLM-N (2); JEM-Gibril (1); and SLA-AW (1). Specific Incidents and Trends over the Month of March 2016

Government Aerial Bombardments in and South Kordofan SUDO (UK) received 12 verified reports (seven Blue Nile; five South Kordofan) containing information of aerial bombardments conducted by the Sudanese Air Force on civilian targets during the month of March. Monitors further identified the specific targeting of seven civilian villages – mostly under the pretext that they are in what is deemed SPLM-N territory – whilst a further 12 strikes targeted areas including Heiban and Azrag in South Kordofan. During these indiscriminate attacks seven civilians were killed and a further seven wounded. Though most attacks do not involve direct civilian casualties; they target civilian infrastructure including those relating to food security and livelihoods through the destruction of farmland and livestock. Such attacks furthermore subject civilians to trauma and psychological stress, all in an effort to undermine the capacity of civilians to survive and to force their displacement.

Arrests and Targeting of the Residents of Buk Village, 100/120 Civilians Still Held in Containers During March monitors identified the arrest of seven civilians by Military Intelligence in Buk village, situated in Al-Tadamon locality in Blue Nile. All of those arrested were taken under the suspicion that they assisted members of the SPLM-N or the movement in general. Additionally, a group of SPLM-N soldiers attacked Buk village on the 10th March, after the arrests had taken place, and looted corn from a local trader.

Reliable information that could be obtained on the whereabouts of those arrested state that they were taken to the Sudanese Armed Forces Headquarters in Demazin, infamously known for the inhumane manner in which detainees are detained by Military Intelligence in containers. One civilian arrested in March by the name of Al-Hadi Aworta El-Daw, is being held in a toxic container, something that was highlighted in interviews with former detainees in SUDO (UK)’s December report. One former detainee noted that “[t]hey would put us in solitary confinement in a small cell or detain us for three days in toxic containers which brought haemorrhages from the testes and gave us sores all over our bodies.” Further investigation by monitors note that there are somewhere between 100 and 120 civilians being held in containers in Demazin by Military Intelligence. Most of those detained are members of the Ingessana ethnic group.

Attack on Media Freedom Monitors submitted four reports pertaining to Press Freedom involving five specific incidents, during which there were four newspaper confiscations and one raid on Madarat Publishing House, all of which occurred in and were perpetrated by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

On the 14th March, NISS officers raided Madarat Publishing House confiscating money, files and computers, before arresting Abdelrahman Elyas, who was then subsequently released ten hours later. NISS officers furthermore confiscated the editions post-print of Al-Sudani (15th), Al-Ayam (22nd and 27th), and Al-Mustagilla (27th) newspapers. None of the aforementioned newspapers were provided with a reason as to why their papers were confiscated.

Post-print confiscations occur often in Sudan and are considered to be a useful tactic by the authorities to financially punish and intimidate media outlets. The Sudanese media are rated in the 2016 World Press Freedom Index as the seventh least free media worldwide as compiled by Reporters Without Borders

Incident Reports

North Darfur 01/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, dressed in military uniform and riding on the back of camels, raped nine minors from Zamzam IDP Camp as they sought to collect feed for their livestock in Rangla area, situated 15km north-west of Zamzam. Four of the nine raped, aged between 13 and 14, lost consciousness due to heavy bleeding. The minors were found in a critical situation by local villagers and were then taken to El-Fasher for treatment. The incident was reported to the police in Zamzam.

03/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, numbering approximately 45 persons dressed in military uniform, assaulted and killed Abdelmajeed Suliman and Hawa Suliman as they were tending to their sheep east of Tabit near Galab and Hijair villages. Following their murder the perpetrators looted their livestock and fled the scene.

03/03/16 Rapid Support Forces militiamen, numbering six persons dressed in military uniform and riding a 4X4 vehicle, shot dead a mother and a son in Abuzaid Agricultural Scheme as they sought to collect firewood. The scheme is situated 20km south-west of Tabit. Monitors note that many residents later fled the area due to repeated attacks by militias. The names of the victims are as follows:

1. Um Al-Khair Adam Bakhit, 47, Fur; 2. Adam Bakhit Yahia, 16, Fur.

The incident has been reported to the police.

04/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped three bombs on Sori village, situated 20km west of Tabit, leading to the death of two civilians named below as:

1. Bothina Hamid Salih, 17, Fur; 2. Ismail Salih Omer, 36, Fur.

The incident occurred at approximately 13:00. Monitors note that only 15 residents were present in the village at the time as most had previously fled following recent attacks by various militias.

05/03/16 Monitors report that on this date a group allegedly linked to ISIS in Libya arrived in Malha area in northern Darfur. The group in question is heavily armed and arrived on some 150-160 4X4 vehicles, protected by a contingent from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The group began to settle in the area; however, they were forced to relocate following protests from the local community.

Consequently, the group have now moved to the Kutum area, where again protests have taken place concerning their presence. The group, consisting of multi-nationals including Sudanese, are settled in the Abdulshakour area close to Kutum, and they regularly travel to Kutum in order to buy from the market though they continue to be escorted by members of the RSF.

06/03/16 Six Janjaweed militiamen, dressed in military uniform and riding in a Landcruiser, severely beat a civilian by the name of Ahmed Shabaan Sabil, a 24 year-old displaced Fur, with sticks and rifles, 5km west of Kasab IDP Camp as he sought to collect feed for his livestock. The injured man was taken for treatment in Kutum, where a report was also submitted to the police.

Monitors note that the militiamen in question came from west Jebel Marra and were under the authority of Hafiz Daoud, the nephew of Musa Hilal.

09/03/16 Four Janjaweed militiamen, dressed in military uniform and riding on the back of camels, assaulted and raped a 31 year-old Tunjur in Firma village, which is located 25km south-east of Korma. The victim was assaulted as she went to collect firewood outside of the village. She was raped alternately by the four militiamen until she lost consciousness, following which she was later found by her husband and taken for treatment in El-Fasher, where the incident was also reported to the police.

The militiamen came from the direction of Um-Galbag, situated 15km south of Korma.

13/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, under the command of Ibrahim Awadain, shot dead a civilian by the name of Al-Doma Yagoub Abdel Mulla, a 67 year-old Berti, inside his home in Al-Koayem village, which is situated 20km east of Tawila. The victim was targeted in order for the perpetrators to loot his livestock and possessions; however, the victim refused to hand them over leading to his death. The incident was reported to the police in Tawila.

One witness alleged that the same militiamen had attacked their village earlier in the month on the 5th March where they looted 13 sheep from one civilian.

It should be noted that the militia under the authority of Ibrahim Awadain is situated in Um Galbag, located 15km north of Tawila.

22/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, numbering 16 persons dressed in military uniform and riding on camels with support from seven 4X4 vehicles laden with armaments, assaulted a commercial vehicle that was carrying 27 passengers and goods in Taalba village, situated 15km east of Tabit.

The militia, under the command of El-Nour who is based in Tawila, ordered the driver to drive to Ed Al-Nabag village, which is situated 50km west of Tawila on the road leading to Kabkabiya. Upon entry to the village the militia beat the passengers and driver before looting their possessions and the goods. Some 21 mobile phones were taken, as was an estimated SDG 932,000, in addition to the minibus itself. The passengers were then released, though not before the driver was forced to hand over the contact details of the vehicle’s owner. They then contacted the owner demanding an SDG 100,000 ransom for the release of the vehicle.

22/03/16 Unknown militiamen, numbering 12 persons dressed in military uniform and riding camels, raped three women 3km outside of Um Bagi village, situated near to Tabit. Seven women had left the village in order to collect feed for their livestock, when they came across the 12 militiamen who proceeded to attack them. Four of the women were able to flee; however, three were caught. Those caught were then raped for three hours alternately from 10:00 until 13:00.

The victims were found by the villagers in a bad condition and were taken to Tabit for treatment, where the incident was also reported to the police.

22/03/16 Members from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), dressed in military uniform, raped an 18 year-old woman 3km outside of Um-Bagi village. The victim, accompanied by another woman, was collecting feed for her livestock when they stumbled across the RSF members. Both women fled, however, one was caught following which she was subjected to rape lasting for three hours between 09:00 and 12:00.

The victim was later found by her family and taken back to their home for treatment. The RSF perpetrators reside close to Tabit.

22/03/16 Eight unknown militiamen, dressed in military uniform and riding camels, assaulted four civilians at approximately 08:00 5km outside Tabit. The victims in question were gathering feed for their livestock, when the militiamen attacked beating them with sticks and whips. Following which, the militiamen looted their possessions and threatened the civilians against returning to this location to collect feed or to graze their livestock.

The civilians assaulted have been named as:

1. Abubakar Idris Suliman; 2. Adam Yagoub Musa; 3. Haron Zakaria Musa; 4. Nour El-Din Yahya Musa.

31/03/16 Two Janjaweed militiamen, dressed in military uniform and riding on camels, assaulted a displaced woman as she and her daughters left Silk IDP Camp in Korma, in order to return to their home village of Tew, situated 15km west of the camp.

The Janjaweed militia in question, under the authority of Zaroga, were present in Tew village when the family returned. Two of the members then sought to rape the mother, but were stopped from doing so by Zaroga who intervened. Following which the two Janjaweed militiamen beat the woman before leaving.

The victim was taken to El-Fasher for treatment, where the incident was also reported to the police.

South Darfur 12/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, riding on camels, attacked a commercial vehicle near to Donkey Hantoob village, situated 15km away from Gereida, killing two civilians and injuring four. The vehicle in question was carrying passengers and goods from Nyala to Buram when it was ambushed. The perpetrators also looted the goods on board before fleeing in an unknown direction. Monitors identified the following civilians as killed:

1. Adan Mohamed Musa; 2. El-Safi Jaafar.

21/03/16 Members from the Rapid Support Forces kidnapped a trader from the southern market in Nyala, before looting his belongings and releasing him outside of the city. The incident occurred at approximately 18:00. The perpetrators drove a 4X4 vehicle and were dressed in military uniform.

22/03/16 Three unknown militiamen, dressed in military uniform, shot dead a civilian by the name of Abdelazeem Mekki (nicknamed Patengam) inside his home in Nyala. The incident occurred at 15:00, and the motive for the attack is currently unclear.

22/03/16 Unknown militiamen looted the car of Mustafa Rabee, the Director of the Television, from the front of the respective ministry in the centre of Nyala. The incident occurred at 12:00.

Central Darfur 01/03/16 The Sudanese Armed Forces bombarded Golo area utilising rockets and heavy artillery causing mass displacement of civilians. Monitors note that the bombardments caused tens of thousands of persons to become displaced, which is further evidence that the number of displacements far exceed OCHA estimates of over 130,000 displaced since the Government of Sudan’s Jebel Marra offensive in the middle of January.

02/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force bombarded villages to the west of Golo, releasing a total of seven bombs. This bombing raid was shortly followed by a ground attack by a large contingent of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) dressed in military uniform and riding camels with support from up to 75 4X4 vehicles laden with armaments. The RSF burned seven villages to destruction, forcing the displacement of the civilians. Monitors recorded the seven villages as the following:

1. Tarbi Sharg; 2. Tarbi Garb; 3. Tarbiba; 4. Mara; 5. Katfaira; 6. Kungara; 7. Taw.

02/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force bombarded Goxi village, situated in west Jebel Marra, killing 13 persons and injuring nine. The attack occurred at approximately 16:00. Monitors were able to identify the following persons:

Killed:

1. Mustafa Jalal Al-Din; 2. Hawa Abdulaziz; 3. Magdi Abdel Al-Ghani; 4. Habiba; 5. Samira Adam Hassan; 6. Jalal Al-Din Yusuf; 7. Arafa Habib; 8. Mohamed Khamis; 9. Halima Mohamed; 10. Wafia Yagoub; 11. Mohamed Jama; 12. Unknown; 13. Unknown.

Injured:

1. Habib Adam Khamis; 2. Yagoub Yusuf, 3. Mawahib Abdulaziz, 4. Kaltom Adam Musa; 5. Mariam Mohamed; 6. Yusuf Jalal Al-Din; 7. Joseph Mohamed Jami; 8. Rogaia Yagoub; 9. Unknown.

03/03/16 Janjaweed militiamen, numbering 150 dressed in military uniform and riding on the back of camels, burned eight villages forcing the displacement of civilians in south-west Jebel Marra. The eight villages were identified by monitors as:

1. Tiw; 2. Taibi; 3. Aradiba; 4. Sania Tacoro; 5. Bardani; 6. Kara; 7. Targo; 8. Moro.

Blue Nile 01/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 15 explosive bombs on the village of Maik, located in Kurmuk locality, killing five civilians. The aerial bombardment was under the pretext that the village was under the direct control of the SPLM-N.

02/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested Shama Mohamed Sid Al-Gom, a 52 year-old midwife at Buk Health Centre, under the pretext that her son was a member of the SPLM-N, and that she provided him with money through her mobile phone in order for him to buy clothes and shoes.

Shama Mohamed Sid Al-Gom is a resident of Buk village, situated in Al-Tadamon locality. She has been taken to the Sudanese Armed Forces Headquarters in Demazin, a location known by monitors to mistreat detainees by detaining them incommunicado in containers.

02/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested Ishtiag Mahjob Abdelseed, a 32 year-old resident of Buk village, situated in Al-Tadamon locality. She was arrested under the pretext that her husband was a member of the SPLM-N and she remained in contact over mobile phone.

02/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested three persons in Buk village, under the pretext that they were in contact with the SPLM-N. They have been named as:

1. Nizar Musa El-Toum, 32, Farmer; 2. El-Tayeb Som El-Toum, 34, Employee at Buk Hospital; 3. Al-Bondog Idris Hamga, 24, Barber.

03/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested Ishraga Mahjob Abdelseed, a 24 year-old resident in Buk village and sister of Ishtiag Mahjob Abdelseed, situated in Al-Tadamon locality. She was arrested under the pretext that she sent phone credit to an SPLM-N member.

She has been taken to the Sudanese Armed Forces Headquarters in Demazin.

03/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 10 bombs on the village of Yaboos, situated in Kurmuk locality. Again the aerial bombardment was under the pretext that the village was under the direct control of the SPLM-N.

07/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested Al-Dawi Ajab Al-Sheikh, a 43-year-old member of the Ingessana ethnic group and resident of Demazin. He stands accused of communicating with the SPLM-N and providing them with information. Al-Dawi Ajab Al-Sheikh worked for the Ministry of Finance.

07/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested Al-Hadi Aworta El-Daw, a 30-year-old resident of Buk village, under the pretext that he worked with the SPLM-N. Reliable information states that Al-Hadi Aworta El- Daw was taken to the Sudanese Armed Forces Headquarters in Demazin where he is being detained inside a toxic container and is facing torture.

07/03/16 Military Intelligence arrested El-Sadig Fadl, aged 30, after assaulting him in his home in Ahmar Silk village, located in Bao locality. He was arrested under the pretext that he cooperated with the SPLM-N. He has been taken to the Sudanese Armed Forces Headquarters in Demazin.

10/03/16 A force consisting of members from the SPLM-N attacked Buk village and looted corn from a local trader, before taking it back to their camp.

12/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 14 barrel bombs from an Antonov aircraft onto the village of Jardan, located in Kurmuk locality. The aerial bombardment killed a number of livestock. The attack occurred under the pretext that they were targeting SPLM-N forces.

14/03/16 A member of the Sudanese Armed Forces killed a 22 year-old resident of Demazin by the name of Adil Salih Bano, a vendor selling transport tickets. The soldier killed him over a dispute relating to travel to Bott area.

22/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 15 bombs on the villages of Mafo and Maik, located in Kurmuk locality under the pretext that they were targeting the SPLM-N forces. This is the second time this month that Maik has been targeted.

24/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 15 bombs on the village of Olo, which is located in Bao locality, and the village of Al-Garwat, which is located in Kurmuk locality. Again these aerial bombardments were under the pretext that they were targeting SPLM-N forces.

25/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped nine bombs on the village of Yaboos situated in Kurmuk locality. This is the second time this month that Yaboos has been targeted.

29-30/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 25 bombs utilising an Antonov on the villages of Khor Hassan, Mayas, and Shitiw, which are located in Kurmuk locality.

March A number of former detainees have been released from containers in Demazin. They had been detained for a period of 50 days to over six months, all without trial. One former detainee commented that there are approximately 100 detainees still held in terrible conditions, whilst another stated it may be closer to 120. The detainees further commented that they were unable to use a bathroom or to wash their clothes. Additionally, they were given two very poor meals a day. Most of the detainees are from the Ingessana ethnic group.

South Kordofan 01/03/16 The Sudanese Armed Forces bombarded Salara area from inside Delling, resulting in the death of five civilians. They have been named as:

1. Jalal Abbas Kafira; 2. Bakhit Abbas; 3. Hassan Saleh Drwish; 4. Mujahid Abdul Rahman Jorna; 5. Karmte Mohamed Salih.

05/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 12 bombs on Mandi and Heiban areas. No casualties were reported by monitors.

06/03/16 SPLM-N forces attacked Furshaya area, located between Al-Debeibat and Delling. During which they clashed with the Sudanese Armed Forces in the area during Primary School exams, resulting in the death of one student.

19/03/16 Members from the Sudanese Armed Forces stopped a commercial vehicle loaded with goods on the road leading from Al-Moglad to Meiram, confiscated the goods and demanded the owner pay SDG 50,000 in order to receive their vehicle back.

22/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force conducted a bombing raid resulting in five bombs dropped on Heiban area, four bombs on Azrag area, and two bombs on Nakma area. No casualties were reported by monitors.

23/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped 22 bombs on the areas of Buram, Olu, Gardud and Aris. No casualties were reported by monitors.

24/03/16 A large contingent of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that had amassed in Kadugli Town moved towards the south and east directions. Before this day Issa Adam Abakar, the South Kordofan Governor, had ordered the distribution of flour, sesame, onion and sugar to every neighbourhood in Kadugli in order for it to be made as a meal for the Mujahideen in the name of Zad Mujahid.

24/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force dropped three bombs on Azrag area, which was targeted for the second time in as many days. No casualties were reported by monitors.

25/03/16 Ibrahim Ismail Al-Zubair, a trader from Domaik area, situated near Kadugli, was arrested by the National Intelligence and Security Services on this date on charges that he aided the SPLM-N. He remains detained in Al-Kowak.

25/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Emad, a former employee of NISS and current trader, in Domaik area, on the charge that he works for SPLM-N in providing them information. Emad remains in detention though has not yet been given a trial.

Emad left NISS following his unit’s integration with the Rapid Support Forces.

27/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Fatima Ahmed Abdullah in Domaik area after having accused her of possessing a Thuraya device (satellite phone) despite having been unable to locate such a device whilst searching her home. Fatima Ahmed Abdullah remains detained in Al-Kowak despite there being no evidence to substantiate the charges levelled against her.

28/03/16 Two persons who have been declared missing since the beginning of the conflict in South Kordofan in 2011 have been confirmed by monitors as alive, though in terrible conditions held by Military Intelligence in Al-Saraf. The detainees are named as:

1. Abdin Musa; 2. Ibrahim Kano.

28/03/16 The Sudanese Armed Forces stopped a commercial vehicle loaded with goods on the road connecting Al-Moglad and Meriam, and confiscated an estimated 280 sacks of corn. They further demanded the owner pay SDG 50,000 for the release of the vehicle. This is the second time this month that monitors have reported this type of incident. No reason has been given.

31/03/16 The Sudanese Air Force bombed Saraf Jamous and Ashron areas, which are located in Um Dorain locality. This led to the death of two civilians and the injury of seven, named as:

Killed: 1. Resala Margas Mustafa; 2. Ibrahim Khamis Ibrahim.

Injured: 1. Sana Habib; 2. Suleiman Talian Bakhitl 3. Ibrahim Idris Koko; 4. Saeed Kumi Degair; 5. Babanusa Ongule; 6. Khamis Haron Al-Rashid; 7. Hani Al-Raiah Moda.

Khartoum 07/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services assaulted two Darfuri political activists at the University of Sharg Al-Neel. They have been named as:

1. Ishag Yusuf Ishag; 2. Idris Adam Abdullah.

14/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) broke into Madarat Publishing House situated in Khartoum Street, and confiscated money, files and computers before arresting Abdelrahman Elyas, who was released ten hours later. Madarat Publishing House has been searched and had its items confiscated several times before.

15/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services confiscated all of the editions of Al-Sudani newspaper from the printing press without providing any explanation.

16/03/16 An unknown armed group assaulted Saddam Adam Hilal, the Executive Officer of the Darfur Student Alliance, inside the University of Sharg Al-Neel. Saddam Adam Hilal had previously been detained.

22/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services confiscated all of the print editions of Al-Ayam newspaper without providing any explanation.

22/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services used force to break up a peaceful demonstration by a group of lawyers held in front of the Ministry of Justice to demand justice for a colleague who has been assaulted by the police. Monitors note that the following were arrested:

1. Wajdi Salih – an activist and leader in the Baath Party; 2. Samiah Hashemi – a human rights activist and former candidate in the Lawyers Association elections.

22/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) prevented the travel of Faisal Mohamed Salih, a journalist, to the and confiscated his passport. He was also summoned to the NISS headquarters.

27/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services prevented a number of activists and journalists from travelling to Geneva in order to attend meetings of the Human Rights Council. Those prevented from travelling included:

1. Siddig Yusuf – a member of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party/member of the Sudanese Solidarity Committee; 2. Dr Muawia Shaddad – a university professor and human rights activist; 3. Sawsan Al-Showaih – activist; 4. Salih Mahmoud – a member of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party, lawyer and human rights activist, recipient of the Human Rights Defenders Award.

27/03/16 The National Intelligence and Security Services confiscated all of the editions of Al-Ayam newspaper from the printing press without providing an explanation. That same day Al-Mustagilla newspaper was prohibited from distributing its paper following the intervention for NISS. Again no reasons were provided for this act.

This is the second time in five days that Al-Ayam newspaper has been confiscated post-print.

Kassala State 01/03/16 A protest by teachers over suspected electoral fraud in the Teacher’s Union Election was suspended following threats of deportations and arbitrary transfers of teachers to remote rural areas by the authorities.

Al-Qadarif 09/03/16 A group of policeman riding aboard a truck arrested a number of traders in Al-Qadarif under the notion that they did not possess a “vocational card”, despite the traders having no prior notice that they required the card in question. Consequently, they were taken to the Central Police station where they were threatened and forced to pay SDG 16 for the card.

12-13/03/16 Police dispersed a peaceful protest held by a group of women in Al-Qadarif city over the repeated failures of the water supply. Police arrested three women on charges relating to public nuisance.

21/03/16 A group of students belonging to the National Congress Party, assaulted and beat students belonging to the Democratic Unionist Party in Al-Qadarif University leading to the injury of:

1. Saddam Abdullah El-Tahir, 21, Faculty of Education; 2. Ammar Khalid El-Tohami, 28, Faculty of Economics.

Red Sea State 04/03/16 The Police and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) dispersed a peaceful protest and arrested eight persons during a march held by roughly 200 demobilised soldiers. The former soldiers gathered at Al-Beja Club before marching toward the local government buildings in order to protest over the failure of the Government to provide them with the money they are owed. NISS has further called on a number of the former soldiers involved to hand themselves into the police, though they refused to do so.

The police arrested the following, all of which have since been released by guarantee, except Haron Idris who remains detained:

1. Mohamed Bilal; 2. Haron Idris; 3. Anwar Silk; 4. Mohamed Ahmed Taher; 5. Anwar Abu Fatima Ali.

The NISS arrested:

1. Omar Hasim; 2. Abdelgader Mahmoud Samra; 3. Ahmed Hussein Taher.

South Sudan 26/03/16 The South Sudanese security service arrested two prominent members of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Second Revolution (SLA-2edR), following their return to South Sudan having participated in the conclusion of the committee meetings of the National Dialogue in Khartoum. It is believed that their arrest is linked to their participation in the National Dialogue, whilst it is further strongly alleged that the Justice and Equality Movement – Gibril Ibahim (JEM-Gibril) and the Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid (SLA-AW) were behind the arrests.

The arrested individuals have been named as:

1. Abdullah Khalil; 2. Adam Abdullah Mohamed.