FIRST ON FOX: Sudan’s Christian population, numbering around two million, is disproportionately affected by the ongoing two-year civil war. Sources indicate that some are resorting to consuming animal feed and even grass to survive.
Sudan is ranked as the fifth most challenging country for Christians, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List, which is compiled by a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness about global persecution.
The conflict has resulted in one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with an estimated 13 to 15 million people forced to flee their homes and approximately 150,000 fatalities since fighting began in April 2023 between the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which is the Sudanese government’s military. The civil war stems from tensions following the 2019 removal of President Omar al-Bashir.
Christians, who constitute an estimated 4% of Sudan’s population, are facing a dual crisis. They are experiencing the same chronic food shortages and the horrors of war as the rest of the Sudanese population. However, they are also allegedly facing discrimination and persecution from both sides involved in the conflict.
Digital spoke with a senior Sudanese church leader, who is working with colleagues in the country and the surrounding region. Speaking from an undisclosed location and remaining anonymous for security reasons, he stated that Christians are viewed as enemies by all parties involved, including warring factions and political groups because Sudan is considered a land of one religion and one race.
He further explained that even when NGOs attempt to distribute food, the government controls the distribution, prioritizing certain groups and often excluding minorities. Christians are often told they must renounce their faith to receive food.
Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Digital that since the civil war began over two years ago, Christians have endured relentless persecution from both warring factions. More than 165 churches have been forcibly closed. In 2023, RSF fighters attacked Khartoum’s Anglican cathedral, assaulting civilians and turning it into a military base. SAF airstrikes destroyed the Al Ezba Baptist Church in Khartoum North. Both sides have also been accused of arbitrary detentions, with SAF allegedly interrogating and beating numerous Christians in 2024 and 2025.
Wahba added that the RSF has been particularly violent in Wad Madani (central Sudan). In December 2024, RSF fighters allegedly set fire to the Evangelical Church of Wad Madani. Later that month, they attacked the Sudanese Church of Christ in Al Jazirah State during a prayer service, injuring 14 worshippers. One militant reportedly threatened to eliminate all Christians.
RSF militants have also allegedly coerced Christians to convert to Islam in exchange for aid and protection. The RSF is the latest iteration of the Janjaweed militias, known for their campaign of ethnic cleansing in Darfur two decades ago. This violent legacy is now being repeated.
Wahba concluded that these abuses have made Christians some of the war’s most vulnerable victims.
The Sudanese church leader who spoke with Digital this week highlighted the dire situation for Christians in El Fasher, a city under siege by the RSF. He reported that people have been eating animal feed and grass for a long time due to shortages of wheat, rice, and medicine. He expressed despair and pleaded for God’s mercy.
A spokesperson told Digital that since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, there has been a significant decline in respect for fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom. This particularly affects marginalized ethnic and religious populations, including Christians.
The spokesperson stated that Sudan was previously designated as a Country of Particular Concern under the Bashir regime, and the U.S. is focused on preventing the return of Bashir-era loyalists and violent extremists who might reinstate severe violations of religious freedom.
The U.S. is working to limit negative Islamist influence in Sudan’s government and curb Iran’s regional activities that contribute to destabilization, conflict, and civilian suffering, in order to safeguard U.S. interests, including the protection of religious freedom in Sudan.
The Sudanese church leader emphasized the current desperation in Sudan. He added that in many areas, Christians are forbidden from praying together in their homes. He believes that the situation is logically hopeless and that Sudan will become more radical, but he maintains faith in God’s ability to turn curses into blessings and prays that the church will continue to be a source of light and salt in the country.