Christians Wounded Amid Military Violence

Coptic church and bell towers in Kosti, Sudan
A Coptic church in Sudan.
Photo: Wikipedia / Bertramz (cc)

Five Christians were injured when unidentified gunmen entered a Coptic Orthodox church in Omdurman, Sudan, in the early morning hours of May 14th. Those wounded during the attack were Rev. Arsanius Zaria and his son, a church cantor, a guard and another parishioner. All five believers received hospital treatment and have since been released.

During the attack, the assailants reportedly stormed the church building, calling those present "infidels" and "sons of dogs," and ordered the Christians to convert to Islam. They then demanded money, before proceeding to loot and damage the building. While the attackers wore scarves to conceal their identities, witnesses have stated that some of them were wearing uniform items from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that is presently fighting against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). These two parties have been battling for control of the country since April 15th. However, both sides of the conflict deny any involvement in this particular incident.

Due to the extreme violence, most foreign nationals have been evacuated from the country, and nearly 1.4 million Sudanese people have fled for safety. At least 730 people have been killed since the start of the civil war, and over 5,000 were wounded. In addition, places of worship have been violated during the fighting, and Christians have been left uncertain about the future as their lives crumble amidst the ongoing destruction. As governments from around the world were evacuating their citizens, advocates called on the international community to monitor the situation, fearful that human rights abuses may worsen without a watchful eye.

Pray that the violence, which has been spurred on by internal factions seeking to control the country, will soon come to an end so a peaceful resolution may be achieved. Furthermore, pray that the fighting would not be used as a cover-up for committing religious violence. Continue to prayerfully uphold our Christian brothers and sisters remaining in Sudan, asking God to ensure their safety, as well as the provisions required to meet their spiritual and practical needs.

  • Country Information

    Population
    49,197,555 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Sudanese Arab (70), Fur, Beja, Nuba and Fallata (30)

    Religion
    Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

    Leader
    President (to be determined)
    Transitional military leadership in place

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Sudan

    Pray that Christians throughout Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ and preach the Gospel boldly, knowing Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth (2 Timothy 1:7-12, Revelation 1:5).

    Pray also that peace, justice and religious freedom may be firmly established.

Sudan News

  • Church Building Destroyed While Authorities Watch
    A pile of rubble - corregated metal, wood, and various other objects - is heaped where a building once stood.
    A demolished Pentecostal church building in Khartoum.
    Photo: CSW

    On July 8th, approximately 30 individuals equipped with heavy machinery demolished a Pentecostal church in the El Haj Yousif area of Khartoum as police officers and military personnel looked on without intervening. By the time the demolition was finished, the worship hall – which had been constructed in the early 1990s – was reduced to rubble, along with the church's administrative offices, guest house, and other adjoining buildings.

  • Church Leaders Face Violence from Multiple Sides
    A large church with several spires.
    A church in Sudan.
    Photo: Flickr / David Stanley (cc)

    The bishop of the El-Obeid diocese in Sudan recently suffered a harrowing ordeal at the hands of both members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and those of the opposing rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On December 1st, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali reported that he was travelling with a deacon named Joseph. The ministry team had just arrived in El-Obeid when they were suddenly stopped and harassed by the SAF. The troops seized the small sum of money in U.S. dollars that the bishop was carrying, claiming that it was forbidden currency. During the robbery, the soldiers also physically harmed the two men.

  • Displaced Christians Driven From Their Homes
    A large group of people are gathered around a small mosque.
    A group of people in Sudan.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Nina R (cc)

    Residents of the Al-Makniya area of Sudan's River Nile state drove 34 displaced Christians from their homes on October 19th. Those responsible for the displacement explained that they did not want any Christians nor black people in the area.

  • Military Officers Arrest Christian Refugees
    A group of men are standing together. They appear to be singing.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, a group of over 100 Sudanese men, women and children travelled to the city of Shendi on the banks of the Nile River in search of refuge from the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group, RSF. There, the refugees – most of whom are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ – sought shelter in an affiliated church building.