Sudan’s ongoing civil war has severely eroded the progress made in religious freedom since the removal of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, according to a report by Open Doors. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese National Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to the destruction or closure of hundreds of churches and violent attacks on believers.
Open Doors reports numerous incidents of violence against Christians, including rape and kidnapping. The situation worsened with a recent airstrike on December 20th by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF) that targeted a Baptist Church in Khartoum North’s Al-Azb area. The bombing resulted in injuries to a congregant, Bakhit Hassan, and tragically killed several civilians whose homes were also destroyed.
Pastor Philemon Hassan Kharata of the targeted Baptist Church told Morning Star News, “The Lord is good, and we pray that He protects the souls that are more important than the property and that He comforts the neighbors of the church who died during the strike. We also pray for healing for our brother Bakhit Hassan.”
The deteriorating situation has caused Sudan to climb to 8th place on the Open Doors 2024 World Watch List, which ranks the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution. Open Doors expresses serious concerns that the conflict could provide a renewed foothold for Islamic extremists, reversing the reforms implemented by the transitional civilian government. These reforms included abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion. The ongoing violence and targeting of religious minorities raise fears of a return to the oppressive conditions experienced under al-Bashir’s regime.