Sudan’s two million Christians face extreme persecution and dire food shortages amid a civil war, with many resorting to eating animal feed and grass to survive.
Sudan’s two million Christians are among the most severely affected by the ongoing civil war that has ravaged the country for over two years. Reports indicate that some individuals are resorting to consuming animal feed and even grass to survive. This crisis has positioned Sudan as the fifth-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of global persecution.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has resulted in the largest displacement crisis globally. Between 13 million and 15 million people have been forced from their homes, and an estimated 150,000 lives have been lost since the fighting began. The roots of this civil war trace back to the tensions following the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Christians, who make up approximately 4% of Sudan’s population, are facing a dual crisis of desperation. Like the broader Sudanese population, they are grappling with chronic food shortages and the horrors of war. However, they are also reportedly targeted for discrimination and persecution by both factions involved in the conflict.
A senior Sudanese church leader, speaking to Fox News Digital from an undisclosed location for safety reasons, highlighted the precarious situation for Christians. He stated, “Christians are seen as an enemy by both warring parties and even the political factions. Sudan is considered a land of one religion and one race.” He further explained that when non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attempt to distribute food, the government controls who receives aid, often excluding minorities. “Christians here have been told, ‘Unless you renounce your Christianity, no food for you,’” he added.
Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasized the relentless persecution faced by Christians since the civil war began. “More than 165 churches have been forced to close. In 2023, RSF fighters stormed Khartoum’s Anglican cathedral, assaulting civilians and converting it into a military base. Meanwhile, SAF airstrikes have leveled the Al Ezba Baptist Church in Khartoum North,” she reported. Both factions have also engaged in arbitrary detentions, with SAF reportedly interrogating and beating dozens of Christians in 2024 and 2025.
The violence has been particularly acute in Wad Madani, a central Sudanese city. Wahba noted that in December 2024, RSF fighters set fire to the Evangelical Church of Wad Madani and attacked the Sudanese Church of Christ during a prayer service, injuring 14 worshippers. One militant allegedly vowed to “eliminate all Christians.”
Moreover, RSF militants have been accused of coercing Christians to convert to Islam in exchange for aid and protection. This group is considered the latest incarnation of the Janjaweed militias, notorious for their ethnic cleansing campaigns in Darfur two decades ago. “Together, these abuses have left Christians among the war’s most vulnerable victims,” Wahba concluded.
The church leader who spoke with Fox News Digital expressed particular concern for Christians in El Fasher, a city currently under siege by the RSF. “For a long time now, they’re eating animal feed and grass. No wheat, no rice, nothing can get in. And, unfortunately, now, no medicine—if you have just the flu, it can kill you. We don’t know what to do. We are just always asking God to have mercy on us,” he lamented.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department commented on the situation, stating, “Since the April 2023 outbreak of conflict in Sudan, we have witnessed significant backsliding in Sudan’s overall respect for fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom. This backsliding especially impacts Sudan’s marginalized ethnic and religious populations, including Christians.”
Sudan was previously designated as a country of particular concern under the former Bashir regime. The United States is now focused on preventing the resurgence of Bashir-era loyalists and other violent extremists who could impose severe violations of religious freedom once again.
In an effort to safeguard U.S. interests, including the protection of religious freedom in Sudan, U.S. initiatives aim to limit negative Islamist influences in the Sudanese government and curtail Iran’s regional activities that contribute to destabilization, conflict, and civilian suffering.
Today, desperation permeates the lives of Sudanese Christians. The church leader conveyed that in many areas, it is forbidden for Christians to pray together even in their homes. “Logically, there is no hope because it [Sudan] will become more radical. But I believe in God, who can turn the curse into a blessing. And we pray that the church continues to be like a light and salt in our country,” he expressed.
Source: Original article