4Sudan

The situation for Christians in Sudan has long been difficult, but right now the Christian community in Sudan is going through a severe, growing crisis and population displacement. This reality stems from the 2021 military takeover and the brutal civil war that started in 2023. The government reinstated oppressive figures, brought back cruel “morality policies” and is using old Islamic laws to justify forcing people to convert or endure physical punishment. This has completely undone the advances in religious freedom made after the oppressive al-Bashir regime was overthrown in 2021.

Many church buildings have been bombed, taken over and used as bases by militias and radical groups. Christians face intense discrimination everywhere: in courts, the workplace and schools.

Converts from Islam live in constant fear and face intense threats, including social isolation, violence from militias and rejection from their families. Historical Christian communities suffer forced church closures, church-registration denials and even destruction of their buildings. Faith leaders and expatriates increasingly experience arbitrary arrest and detention due to the ongoing conflict.

Meet Rafat

“We don’t know what this new Sudan will look like after the war, but I think this is a time for the Church to stand up for [our] rights to ensure we have a place and a voice.”

Rafat Samir, a Sudanese church leader and chairman of the Evangelical Community Council for Sudan.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors’ vision for Sudan is to see a resilient Church that stands strong in the face of persecution and is economically empowered to support itself. It supports by providing persecution-preparedness programmes, enhancing discipleship, and facilitating economic empowerment.

(Please note that while we are planning for our work to continue as intended, during the current security challenges, emergency response to help Christians survive has had to take priority over all other work.)