Religious Tensions Rise in Port Sudan Following Church Vandalism
Recent vandalism on two churches in Port Sudan has sparked concern among local religious communities. Last week, the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church and a nearby Orthodox Church were defaced with Islamic graffiti, including the Islamic Shahadah and the phrase “Allah is eternal,” in a bustling market area of the city.
According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the Shahadah was painted on the Evangelical church’s walls, accompanied by a Qur’anic verse. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church was marked with the phrase “Allah is eternal.” These incidents occurred despite the churches’ proximity to a police station and government offices.
Surveillance footage from the Orthodox Church captured a group arriving in a car, with one individual exiting to spray the graffiti. However, local authorities have reportedly not taken any action in response to the vandalism.
The acts of vandalism come amidst Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has displaced many to Port Sudan, a city previously considered safe. The city has now become an administrative hub for SAF leadership while hosting numerous displaced civilians.
In response to the graffiti, leaders from the Evangelical church chose not to file a complaint, hoping to prevent further community unrest. Instead, church members covered the graffiti with paint, creating abstract designs in its place.
A church member expressed concern, stating, “Only God knows what will come next if such a hate crime is tolerated.” CSW’s CEO, Scot Bower, has called on Port Sudan authorities to investigate, emphasizing that religious intolerance is increasing amid the conflict.
In the northern regions of Sudan, where Christians, particularly those from the Nuba Mountains, face systemic discrimination, the situation remains tense. The “Strange Faces” policy further restricts freedom of movement, affecting those of Darfuri Arab descent accused of RSF affiliations. Arbitrary detentions and emergency court procedures resulting in death sentences are common.
In a related incident in September, armed police in Atbara, River Nile State, dismantled temporary shelters of civilians who had fled conflict without receiving aid. These civilians were instructed to return to the still-dangerous city of Khartoum.
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is currently the world’s largest, with approximately 12 million displaced individuals and 30 million in need of humanitarian aid. Evangelist Franklin Graham condemned RSF fighters for their violent actions in Darfur, including executions captured in videos verified by the BBC.
The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is rooted in the Janjaweed militia responsible for early 2000s massacres in Darfur. Dagalo has expanded the RSF into a force of 100,000 fighters, supported by countries like the UAE, Turkey, and Russia.
Sudan’s army has filed a case at the International Court of Justice against the UAE, accusing it of supporting the RSF in violation of the Genocide Convention, a claim the UAE dismisses as a publicity stunt. Since the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Dagalo has remained a key power figure, leading a coup that disrupted Sudan’s transitional government. The current conflict erupted from a breakdown in relations between Dagalo and Army Chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, with the RSF now controlling significant territories in Darfur and Kordofan, planning to establish a parallel government.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
