Christians in Sudan face continued targeting and are victims of “heinous crimes” amidst the ongoing civil war in Sudan which shows no signs of easing any time soon.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) workers with contacts on the ground in the country which is being torn apart by civil war, told en that they “reject any suggestion that the conflict shows signs of abating,” and revealed that Christians have been targeted by both warring parties since the conflict began.
The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have been locked in a brutal civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for two years, which has now seen an estimated 150,000 people killed and over 11million (over 20% of the national population) displaced across the country. The SAF have now driven RSF fighters out of most of Khartoum, the nation’s capital, and Gezira State, while the RSF control most of the Darfur region.
In addition to the “heinous crimes” committed against civilians by extremists on both sides, including executions and beheadings in Khartoum alongside other atrocities in Gezira, Khartoum and Darfur, CSW partners revealed that Christians have been targeted, and many face further persecution thanks to a new agreement between the RSF and its allies, which secures their control of several regions including the Nuba Mountains, where the majority of the nation’s Christians come from.
The partners told en: “Christians have been targeted since the beginning of the war by both belligerents, including through the bombing and looting of churches, and assaults on Christian leaders. In some RSF controlled areas, Christians have been forced to convert to Islam, while those who manage to escape are typically arrested by the SAF and accused of being affiliated with the RSF.”
