The war in Sudan has taken a devastating toll on religious communities, with over 150 churches damaged or destroyed since the conflict began last April. According to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has resulted in over 13,000 estimated deaths, with armed combatants specifically targeting houses of worship and other religious sites.
Commissioner Mohamed Magid emphasized the importance of protecting houses of worship and religious sites during armed conflict, stating that despite international humanitarian law deeming them as sacrosanct, these sites continue to be impermissibly damaged and destroyed in Sudan.
One significant event that occurred in January was when RSF militants set an Evangelical church in Wad Madani on fire, which was the largest religious structure in Gezira State. The RSF also attacked a Coptic Christian monastery, converting it into a military base.
The violence isn’t limited to structures, as armed assailants have also targeted individuals. In one incident, RSF militants killed a member of the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church during a raid in Omdurman. Additionally, an Evangelical Pastor narrowly escaped death after refusing to renounce his faith, resulting in the murder of his nephew.
The conflict has deeply affected Sudan’s Christian minority, with Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List ranking Sudan as the 8th most challenging place to be a Christian. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about future persecution, especially for religious minorities, as the power struggle between the SAF and RSF continues to escalate.
As the conflict in Sudan persists, there are fears that the situation could worsen for religious communities, especially with the reversal of religious freedom advancements made after the ouster of former dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The transitional government’s efforts to reduce religious discrimination have been undermined by the military coup in 2021, leaving Sudan’s religious communities in a precarious state.