Sudan Detains Dozens Of Christians

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

MADANI, SUDAN (Worthy News) – Church leaders have urged the release of dozens of Sudanese Christians who were detained by security forces linked to Sudan’s official military.

Several of those taken into custody by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) were members of churches affiliated with the Sudan Council of Churches, Christians say. At least 19 Christians were reportedly detained in Madani in January and February of this year.

SAF-linked security forces arrested seven others on January 21 as the group traveled from Barakat to Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah state, according to local reports.

They were reportedly traveling to a thanksgiving prayer meeting of the Inter-Church Committee in Madani, 85 miles (136 kilometers) southeast of Khartoum, the capital.

Attorney Shinbago Mugaddam said the Christians were initially held in the Joint Military Cell on Nile Avenue in Madani, where they were subjected “to extensive interrogation for a week” before they were transferred to Madani Prison.

He identified the seven Christians as Sudan Council of Churches members Akech Otin, Abraham John, Patrice Saeed, Peter Makuei, Rani Andraws, Ammanuel and James.

All 26 Christians detained since January have been accused of being supporters of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

BROADER CONCERNS

The detentions highlighted the difficulties of Christians, who comprise roughly four percent of the mainly Sunni Muslim nation of 50 million people, according to Christian researchers.

Many of the nation’s estimated two million Christians have been in the crossfire since the army and the powerful RSF began a vicious power struggle, Worthy News learned.

“More than 100 churches, Christian buildings, and even private homes belonging to Christians have been forcibly occupied during the country’s ongoing conflict,” explained Christian advocacy group Open Doors.

“There has been a spike in the abduction and killing of Christian men by radical Islamic groups. Church leaders are targeted by false charges, including terrorism and apostasy, despite the apostasy law being abolished in 2020,” the group noted.

“Converts from Islam face violence, imprisonment, forced marriage, rejection, sexual violence, disinheritance, and losing custody of their children. Many are forced to flee their homes or feel that staying is unsustainable,” added Open Dooes.

Christians are also “experiencing exceptional hardship in the hunger crisis because local communities discriminate against them and won’t give them support,” the group stressed.

Sudan currently ranks 5th on the annual World Watch List of 50 nations where Open Doors claims Christians face the most persecution for their faith in Christ.

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