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Sudan’s Oldest Churches Attacked Amid Ongoing War
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
PORT SUDAN, SUDAN (Worthy News) – Sudanese Christians faced new challenges Tuesday after two of Sudan’s oldest churches were reportedly attacked by suspected Islamic vandals in the Sunni Muslim–majority nation.
Members of the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church in the de facto capital, Port Sudan, said they found the Islamic Shahadah — the Islamic declaration of faith, ‘There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger’ — written in red on the church’s front wall last week.
The words were accompanied by a verse from the Koran, viewed as a holy book by Muslims, referring to Allah as “no god but He, the Lord of the Honourable Throne.”
The Orthodox Church had “Allah is eternal” written on its exterior wall.
During the incident, security camera footage showed the culprit arriving in a car with others, then emerging from the vehicle with a can of red graffiti spray, sources said.
CHURCHES VANDALIZED IN CENTRAL PORT SUDAN
They were seen approaching the exterior wall of the church, which they apparently attacked.
The advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) raised concerns about the incidents. “The two churches, which are among the oldest Christian places of worship in Sudan, are located in the centre of Port Sudan Market, opposite the police station and nearby official state administrative buildings.”
The attacks came at a time when Port Sudan operates as the de facto capital of the northeastern African country since 2023, when the Sudanese government moved there due to intense fighting in the capital Khartoum.
Port Sudan has also emerged as a refuge for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons amid ongoing clashes between the official Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Yet for minority Christians, even Port Sudan isn’t safe, suggested CSW. “Despite the churches’ central location, no action was taken by local officials, including the police.”
CHRISTIANS AVOID FILING COMPLAINT AMID FEAR
Due to the “nature of the graffiti, the leaders of the Evangelical Church did not want to cause further tension in the community by filing an official complaint,” added CSW, which closely followed the case. “Consequently, members of the congregation covered the writing to make it appear to be creative artwork.”
An unidentified member of the Evangelical Church reportedly said, however, that “this is alarming, and it might only be the start, and only God knows what will come next if such a hate crime is tolerated.”
In comments obtained by Worthy News, CSW’s Chief Executive Officer Scot Bower said: “We are alarmed that two of Sudan’s oldest places of Christian worship have been targeted in this manner. With the Christian season of Advent due to commence in the coming week, these attacks increase the sense of vulnerability and fear among Sudan’s Christian communities.”
The CEO added that “It is incumbent on the authorities based in Port Sudan to address all incidents of religious intolerance, which has become so rife during this war. We call on the authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators to account, ensuring the safety and security of Christian communities and their ability to worship without fear or consequence.”
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHRISTIANS DEEPENS DURING WAR
Christians in northern states of Sudan have been subjected to multiple layers of discrimination, particularly those from the Nuba Mountains, where the majority of Sudan’s Christians are originally from, according to investigators.
“In parts of the north, people of Darfuri Arab ethnicity are often accused of being affiliated with the RSF. This discrimination is also enforced through the ‘Strange Faces’ policy that restricts freedom of movement for anyone who does not look like they are from northern states,” CSW said in an assessment.
“The policy primarily targets people from western Sudan, who are subject to arbitrary detention, unfair trials, and are sentenced to death through emergency laws for allegedly being affiliated with the RSF.”
CSW said it learned that in “September 2025, armed police attacked a settlement in Atbara in River Nile State, destroying makeshift homes and properties of civilians who had fled the war and had not received any support from the authorities. The group was informed that they were to return to Khartoum State, despite evidence that the city is still not safe for civilians.”
SUDAN IN WORLD’S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
Sudan is currently described by the United Nations as “the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis,” with an estimated 12 million people forced from their homes and 30 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
“The implementation of policies that discriminate between citizens on the basis of identity has deepened social hostilities and sparked hate speech and intolerance, with vulnerable civilians [such as Christians] being targeted by the SAF or threatened by civilians. These attacks further fuel an extremely fragile situation,” CSW said.
Sudan ranks eighth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025, placing it among the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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