Source: www.persecution.org
Date: September 19, 2024
U.S./Sudan (International Christian Concern) — In a statement this week, U.S. President Joe Biden called on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to end a brutal civil war that has waged for more than a year, displacing nearly 10 million people and leading to the tens of thousands of deaths.
“We call for all parties,” the statement said, “to end this violence and refrain from fueling it, for the future of Sudan and for all of the Sudanese people.”
According to reports, 165 churches have had to close since the war broke out. Some churches are used as bases for military operations in the war, with people sheltering there forced out or even killed to make way for soldiers. Members of the clergy have been targeted, with soldiers shooting or stabbing priests and others during their raids.
The well-equipped SAF often bombs churches, indiscriminately injuring or killing those sheltering inside, including women and children.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the SAF and a primary belligerent in the conflict, quickly affirmed Biden’s statement and emphasized his desire to negotiate an end to the conflict. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF, made similar comments in a statement on social media.
Both sides blame the other for atrocities against civilians but deny responsibility for attacking civilians themselves. “The Sudanese Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to the principles of international humanitarian law,” al-Burhan said. He condemned the RSF for its “utter disregard for human life” and called on the international community to hold it accountable.
In reality, both sides of the conflict have been responsible for immense human suffering and have acted in ways that directly kill, harm, and displace civilians. Afraid of losing leverage or battlefield advantage, both sides have also blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching those in need. Speaking to this issue, the White House called on both parties to “immediately allow unhindered humanitarian access to all areas of Sudan” and reverse their decisions to “delay and disrupt lifesaving humanitarian operations.”
Only about 5% of Sudan’s population is Christian, while about 91% identify as Sunni Muslim. The state of religious freedom in Sudan has been bleak for decades, with Christians severely persecuted during the 30-year reign of dictator Omar al-Bashir and the Sharia-based legal system he imposed.
After Bashir was deposed in 2019, a brief period of relative freedom ensued. However, that peace broke in 2021 when the SAF and RSF worked together to overthrow the civilian government led by Abdalla Hamdok. That alliance fell apart in April 2023, prompting the current conflict and utterly devastating Sudan’s civilian population, both Christian and Muslim. Both sides in the conflict have been recorded attacking churches, harassing members, and killing religious leaders.
A tiny minority in a country rocked by militancy and instability, Sudan’s Christians are in a particularly vulnerable place today. International efforts to quell the conflict have produced few results, and little seems to be happening to address the targeted violence against Christians caught in the crosshairs. The international community must increase its efforts to bring peace to Sudan and to protect the country’s fragile Christian population.