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Sudan: Christians killed, churches destroyed in ongoing violent conflict

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – While it is not yet clear if Christians are being specifically targeted in the violent civil conflict in Sudan, four churches have been destroyed and Christians have reportedly been killed, wounded, turned away from state hospitals, and barred from receiving humanitarian aid being given to Muslims, Baptist Press reported on April 28. The violence broke out on April 15 as the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fought for control of the government.

In a statement about the crisis in Sudan, Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), said that deadly chaos, which has so far killed hundreds of civilians, may provide a cover for specifically attacking Christians, Baptist Press reports. “One of the dangers of the situation in Sudan is that persecution and targeting of churches and Christians can be ‘disguised’ in the midst of airstrikes, missiles, and gunfire,” Nettleton said.

“VOM contacts say an increasing number of Christians have been killed in the fighting,” Neddleton continued. “Sources also report injured Christians are being turned away at state hospitals, and that Christians are being denied food relief that is being provided to Muslim citizens,” he said. VOM has received reports of at least four churches being destroyed since the fighting broke out, Neddleton added.

Concerning attacks on churches amid the conflict, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said in an April 27 press release: “CSW learned that on 17 April an Anglican church in central Khartoum was seized as a military base by suspected RSF fighters, who damaged six cars, and forced 42 people who were sheltering there, and who included the church leader and his family, to leave the building after physically assaulting several of them. The church is a five-minute drive from the army headquarters. In Bahri, Khartoum North, the Evangelical Church was bombed and partially burned.”