Share Tweet By Billy Hallowell Editor
May 22, 2023
A Christian missionary recently revealed some of the horrific conditions on the ground in war-torn Sudan, sharing how the dire circumstances are both unbearable and deadly.
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Kafeel Amani, whose name has been changed for his protection, told Christian Headlines “life is extremely terrible” for those inside a nation at war.
“There is no stability, as gunshots and explosions are the order of the day,” he said. “People live in fear and hopelessness. Life becomes meaningless as the value of human beings is reduced to nothingness.”
People have been fleeing Sudan as battles rage and life has become unsustainable. The “catastrophic” situation continues to devolve, with power, water, and food evaporating. The current crisis in Sudan has led to what Reuters called a “collapse in law and order.”
It’s the result of battles between a paramilitary force called Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army a clash that began April 15 and has now entered its sixth week.
Amami told Christian Headlines about the tragic and horrific stories he’s hearing.
“I have been hearing stories of the mass displacement, destruction, and rape of people unable to leave the war zone simply because there are no means of transport or because travel is impossible,” he said.
The missionary said the fighting has forced hundreds of thousands to flee Sudan and head into South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, and Ethiopia in hopes of escaping the chaos, according to Christian Headlines.
Some estimates place the total displaced number well over 1 million.
“Dead bodies are seen everywhere, including in the streets. Hospitals are out of service, and many of them have been turned into military bases,” Amani said. “Khartoum International Airport is still out of service after it was targeted during the first days of the war.”
Churches are reportedly among the locations being looted and under attack. The Rapid Support Forces are reportedly invading houses of worship and Christian assets.
Amani asked for prayer to be able to evacuate his family from Sudan, as he has siblings trapped there and also family members who have fled to Kenya and are in need of assistance.
But he also asked for prayer for him to reach the hearts and minds of many who are suffering.
“Pray for me to keep working hard to help those who are persecuted for their faith,” he said. “Pray that many lives will be transformed and saved through this ministry.”
Read more over at Christian Headlines.
Sudan is the tenth most difficult nation for Christians to live in, according to Open Doors’ “World Watch List.” With just 2 million believers within its borders, Christians account for just 4.3% of the population.
Open Doors noted there have been “positive strides” toward religious liberty in recent years, but that Christian persecution remains high and ongoing war inside the country, which has increased since 2021, could further fuel those dynamics.
“The seizure of power occurred following an escalation in hostilities between conservative Islamists who want a military government and those who toppled Omar al-Bashir in April 2019,” Open Doors explained. “The overthrow of al Bashir resulted in a transitional government, with power shared between the military and civilian leaders.”
With uncertainty abounding, some fear the death penalty for leaving Islam which was vanquished in 2020 could return, among other horrors.
According to Reuters, the current crisis began over quarrels about plans to integrate Rapid Support Forces into the Sudanese Army, and the chain of command that would follow.
Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who leads Sudan’s military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, of Rapid Support Forces, both seek what the AP called “international legitimacy.” After joining together to take power in 2021 after the ouster of former Sudanese leader al-Bashir, their current rift is calling hopes for Sudan’s democratic transition into question.
The AP reported last month that the U.S. and other nations evacuated diplomats and staff as chaos intensified. Pray for Sudan, refugees, and surrounding countries dealing with the chaos.
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