Persecution of Christians in Sudan

Christian clergy and civilians in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and South Kordofan regions are facing an escalating wave of targeted attacks, including killings and abductions. Reports from the aid organization Open Doors highlight specific incidents, such as the death of Pastor Adel Idris Jongool and six civilians during an attack on a theological seminary in Dabbi on July 24, and the June killing of Pastor Youhanna Al-Amin following the looting of a church medical warehouse.

As the country’s civil war continues, churches that previously functioned as neutral sanctuaries are increasingly being occupied for military use or targeted during raids. The violence is attributed to various actors, including the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N). While some violence is linked to religious and tribal tensions, other incidents appear connected to ransom demands or disputes over humanitarian aid. This instability occurs alongside a massive displacement crisis, with the UNHCR reporting that approximately 12 million people have been displaced by the conflict.