Sudan: Christian leaders targeted in rising wave of attacks

Christian communities in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and South Kordofan state are facing an escalating wave of killings, abductions, and attacks amid the country’s ongoing civil war and tribal tensions. Reports indicate that church leaders have become specific targets; Pastor Adel Idris Jongool of the Episcopal Church of Sudan died from wounds sustained during a militant attack on the Dabbi area on July 24. Additionally, Pastor Youhanna Al-Amin was killed in June following the looting of a church medical camp.

Violence in the region is attributed to various actors, including factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), as well as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While some attacks appear linked to religious and tribal tensions, others are reportedly connected to disputes over humanitarian aid or ransom demands. Churches, which previously served as neutral sanctuaries, are increasingly being occupied for military purposes or targeted during raids. The instability contributes to what the UN describes as one of the world’s largest refugee crises, with millions displaced by the conflict.