Sudan

Population: 41.5 million
Christian Percentage: 5 percent
Dominant Religion: Islam
Persecution Ranking: 10

This month marks the beginning of the second year of a war in Sudan that has destroyed the lives of millions. About 6.3 million are displaced, and nearly two million have left Sudan for safer nearby countries. In his report to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk reports that the situation worsens as time progresses. He noted that there is a blatant disregard for human life, a charge that human rights lawyer Abdelhaleq El Newari says is an understatement.

The vast majority of the refugees are women and children. This has resulted in children being unable to attend school, jeopardizing their future. October was supposed to be the beginning of a new school year. Still, it has been postponed indefinitely because of the fighting. Children who live in Sudanese war zones are usually traumatized.

As we reported in January, women suffer from widespread sexual violence, often as retaliation against their ethnic group. About 167,000 pregnant women are seeking safety, either within or outside of Sudan. Pre-natal care and any other kind of medical attention are not available. Perpetrators have raided Sixty medical facilities since the war began a year ago, and 70-80 percent of hospitals and clinics are not functioning in war zones. Farming is curtailed, and food is in short supply. Experts expect famine to hit Sudan by June. The power struggle continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebels, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Neither side sees a reason to stop fighting.

Perhaps the only way to stop the fighting is to dry up their sources of revenue. Without the means to buy arms, the two opposing sides would be forced to make peace and stop ruining the lives of the innocent. Outside nations are helping to keep the war going. Iran is selling military-use drones to the SAF. Both sides fight for areas where there are gold deposits and they have ready customers. Russia’s Wagner group is trading surface-to-air missiles for gold, funding their country’s aggression against Ukraine. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt are purchasing gold from the belligerents, helping to fund this war between two power-hungry generals.

It is unlikely outside nations will stop their role in the conflict. Every country wants markets for weapons and access to gold. But we can pray because we know a God who answers prayer, and He is all-powerful!

Sudan. United Nations Population Fund. March 7, 2024.
AllAfrica. Sudan: Critics – UN Report On Human Rights in Sudan ‘Does Not Correspond With Scale of Violations.’ March 5, 2024
Semafor. Iran is sending attack drones to Sudan’s military. February 29, 2024.
Martinplaut. Dirty Money Is Destroying Sudan. February 3, 2024.