Sudan's horrific civil war is being overlooked. Here's how Christians can pray for peace

In April 2023, a bloody civil war began in Sudan. So far, an estimated 150,000 people have been killed, with millions driven from their homes.

The shocking extremity of the violence was laid bare for all to see in recent weeks as the city of El Fasher was finally captured by one of the warring factions after an 18-month siege. Satellite images showed piles of bodies strewn across the city, along with the wreckage of burned-out buildings.

In spite of the horrific death toll, the conflict seems to remain permanently on the periphery of our awareness, never gaining more than a few short mentions on the news. Church leaders, including Most Rev Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, have urged Christians to join together in prayer.

But how can we pray for the nation – and the 2 million Christians who live there?

I asked Rafat Samir, general secretary of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance, the following questions. Rafat explains what lies at the heart of the current violence.

Who is fighting in this civil war?

This is a battle between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is part of the security force formed by former President Omar al-Bashir, who was deposed in 2019. It’s a remnant of the so-called Janjaweed militia (a paramilitary group), which fought in Darfur and has been accused of genocide.

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) were the nation’s official armed forces. But now the two armed groups – and the two generals leading them – are struggling for supremacy. Both groups are militantly Islamist. Both want to rule the country because of the wealth of mineral resources.

The leader of one group said he could shake hands with the devil. In other words, either side will do anything to further Islam and Islamic Sharia law. This partly explains why the fighting has been so brutal.

What impact has this had on civilians?

Life has been unspeakable for civilians for like me. They took my home, my car, my job, my money. Now I have nothing.

The fighters on both sides are like a swarm of locusts, moving across the country, stripping it of life. Killing is everywhere. I had bodies buried in front of my door at home and there is blood is everywhere.

Sudan has 15 million displaced people - that’s almost half of the entire population, and the largest displaced population in the world. Around 6 million have fled the country. Most now live on aid. They have nowhere to live and no jobs. Fighting has destroyed the country.

The spiritual effect is almost more chilling, though. People’s hearts have been turned to stone by the conflict. In families, brothers kill each other. It is no longer a united Sudan.

What is the situation for Sudan’s Christians?

Christians make up roughly six per cent of the population of Sudan - but it’s hard to know the exact number. I was born into a Christian family, but in my official papers, I was recorded as a Muslim. The government wants to make the whole population Muslim.

There are two distinct groups: members of the Orthodox Church and converts from Muslim backgrounds. For converts, things are far worse, as converting from Islam is seen as blasphemy. In law, you can no longer be punished for this, but the reality is that converts face beheading.

Many have fled north, but now the SAF have started to demolish Christian majority areas. Christians can’t stay, and they can’t return home. They are often excluded from the distribution of aid, too.

Both sides accuse Christians of being in alliance with the other party – they are constantly the enemy.

What hope do Christians have for the future of Sudan?

When President Al Bashar was deposed in 2019, there was some hope that the transitional government would change things. However, now we are stuck. This war offers opportunity for Islamists to take over and say: “You see, democracy is not working. Let’s go back to our Islam and Shariah law.”

If they succeed, the life of Christians will be worse than ever. But we still believe that God put us here for a reason. We have something to do. We know that God will turn this curse to an ultimate blessing for our nation.

As a Christian, I hope that God changes the situation for the good of his people. But unless the military go back to their barracks and leave the administration to the civilian government, the situation in Sudan will not improve. It’s my prayer that the international community - especially countries that have a strong influence on Sudan - will intervene.

During this hugely challenging time, where can you see good news?

When you meet Sudanese people, especially Christians, there’s a lot of encouragement. The country has been through a difficult time for decades. But Christians are committed to serving and reaching unreached people in the country and taking the good news to their Muslim neighbours.

I recently met one convert who was excommunicated by her family. Everybody expected her to denounce her faith and go back to her old religion. But she said: “Despite all these challenges, I’ll stick to my faith and continue to love and serve Jesus.” This kind of determination and strong faith in the Lord is a source of much encouragement.

How can we pray for Sudan?

The longer the conflict goes on, the more damaging the effect on the lives of Christians. If they don’t work, they will starve. Please pray for the Lord to give wisdom to the political and military commanders, that they will come to their senses.

And pray that the Church won’t have their hearts hardened by the killing and hatred. Instead, pray that we start playing our role as a light in the region.

Please also pray that the crisis will not empower or enable Islamists to further their agenda. If the situation in Sudan deteriorates, it will impact Christians around the region. Let’s pray for Christians and the future of the Church in Sudan and East Africa.

This is a difficult time for Sudan. Let’s pray that the Lord will intervene and motivate those who can contribute solutions to the crisis. Knowing that our brothers and sisters in Christ are by our side in prayer is always an encouragement to us.