As the war rages on between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces, the situation becomes increasingly precarious for Christians. On 11 October, the SAF arrested 26 Christians as they were fleeing their community in Khartoum state to seek refuge from the ongoing fighting.
Since the arrest, eight believers have been released with 18 remaining imprisoned.
The Christians, all belonging to the Sudanese Church of Christ, were arrested and interrogated by the National Intelligence Division. They were then accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces since the start of this war.
The imprisoned believers and an unknown female and boy are all being detained in an unknown army detention centre. Despite several attempts from church leaders appealing to the government for their release, there has been no response from officials.
Christians Face Additional Layer of Suffering
While all citizens are being caught in the violence, Open Doors teams involved with the work in the country have said Christians are facing an additional layer of suffering. “The hostility facing Christians is particularly acute outside Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum. But the epicentre of the conflict is the capital where most Christians live. Many have been forced to flee, while those who remain may be forced, or seen to take sides in the conflict, putting them at further risk,” shares Fikiru*, an Open Doors research expert for East Africa.
“This arrest is evidence and a reminder of the painful situation Sudanese Christians remain in,” says Jo Newhouse, spokesperson for the work of Open Doors in Sub-Saharan Africa. “We call on the Sudanese government to engage Christian leaders in discussions about the detained believers’ current conditions and allow access to their families and lawyers. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. Fighting over the past year has only exacerbated the suffering of the most vulnerable. We call on Sudan’s partners and the international community to do all in its power to convince the warring factions to find negotiated solutions to the conflict.”
*Names changed for security purposes.
Pray for Sudan
- Pray for these believers’ quick release from imprisonment, that they will be safely reunited with their families and community.
- Ask God to protect each person from abuse and torture.
- According to local Open Doors’ contacts, several of these believers are sick. Please pray for their wholeness and healing, in Jesus’ name.
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