Sudanese pastors face death threats in South Sudan refugee camp

Two Sudanese pastors residing in the Gorom Refugee Settlement in South Sudan are facing death threats following a recent incident on September 25. Pastor Drij Haruon Khamis reported that an unidentified man spent approximately 30 minutes monitoring his home near Juba, making phone calls during the encounter. Local police arrested the suspect, who remains in custody; authorities indicated during questioning that the individual posed a threat.

The incident follows a May attack in which Muslim extremists allegedly injured Pastor Khamis’ leg at a church site within the settlement. Both Khamis and Pastor Adel Idris, leaders of the Darfur Christian Council, have reportedly been targeted by extremists. The tension is reportedly fueled by local mosque leadership, with some extremists viewing Christian evangelism as a threat to Islam.

The situation has caused widespread anxiety among Christian converts from Sudan’s Darfur region living in the camp. While the South Sudanese constitution guarantees religious freedom, these refugees face significant communal hostility and familial rejection due to their conversion from Islam.