USCIRF Sounds Alarm for Attacks Against Religious Communities in Sudan

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned by the devastating violence perpetrated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the ramifications it has on religious communities. Since the war in Sudan started on April 15, 2023, USCIRF has voiced its concern on the egregious human rights violations and its significant toll on human life, with over 13,000 estimated dead. Armed combatants have intentionally damaged and destroyed houses of worship and the conflict has deeply affected religious communities in Sudan.

“This week is the one-year anniversary of the brutal war that continues to tear Sudan apart. With no end in sight, USCIRF is sounding the alarm that this war is having on religious communities,” said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid. “International humanitarian law deems houses of worship and religious sites as sacrosanct, even during armed conflict. Despite Article 53 protections, houses of worship and religious sites continue to be impermissibly damaged and destroyed in Sudan. We are particularly concerned by attacks on religious leaders in Sudan and the effects of the current conflict on religious minorities in the country. USCIRF urges the U.S. government to call upon all parties to armed conflicts to abide by international humanitarian law.”

Since the war began, it has been reported that over 150 churches have been damaged. In recent months, parties to the conflict across Sudan have targeted several religious sites across the country. In March, SAF allies heavily damaged and vandalized the Sheikh Qarib Allah mosque in Omdurman while using explosives. This past January, RSF troops set an Evangelical church in Wad Madani on fire. It was the largest religious structure in Gezira State, and one of the oldest built in 1939. In December 2023, Rapid Support Forces attacked a Coptic Christian monastery in Wad Madani, and converted it to a military base. Five priests and five seminarians also went missing after RSF troops captured the property. In May 2023, gunmen reportedly entered a church and shot four persons, including a priest and his son. The assailants also stabbed the church guard before looting the building.

Earlier this week, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello and USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman participated in the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan, which marked the one-year anniversary of the war. During the conference, Deputy Administrator Coleman announced $100 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan, bringing the total U.S. government humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people to more than $1 billion since October 2023.

“USCIRF had high hopes for the future trajectory of freedom of religion or belief in Sudan. The Sudanese transitional government made significant progress from 2019 to 2021. Sadly, USCIRF is instead watching the horrors unfold in Sudan, reminiscent of the past wars that resulted in genocide and crimes against humanity in the country,” said USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf. “The U.S. government is the largest single provider of assistance to Sudan, and has provided billions of dollars of humanitarian aid. USCIRF hopes, with the U.S. government’s support, the violence will come to an end soon and Sudan can get back on its path to providing freedom of religion or belief for all.”

In November, USCIRF highlighted an increase in the destruction of religious sites during armed conflict, and called for governments and non-state actors to adhere to international law to protect these sites. USCIRF has also released separate publications on freedom of religion or belief in the Sahel region of Africa and the international law protecting houses of worship and holy sites, as well as a compendium which documents anti-conversion laws, including in Sudan.

###

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].