Sudan Jails 19 Christians on Baseless Allegations
Sudan jails 19 Christians in Madani amid escalating religious persecution. Seven were arrested on January 21 by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) while traveling from Barakat to Madani, accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These arrests, occurring between January and February, highlight growing concerns over the targeting of Christians. With no evidence linking them to the RSF, church leaders and human rights groups condemn the detentions as part of systematic religious oppression.
Arrests and Allegations: A Targeted Crackdown
At least 19 Christians were arrested in Sudan’s city of Madani between January and February 2024, raising serious concerns over religious persecution. Security forces associated with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) detained seven Christians on January 21 while they were traveling from Barakat to Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah state. These individuals were accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a claim that local church leaders strongly dispute.
The detained Christians, members of different churches affiliated with the Sudan Council of Churches, were en route to a thanksgiving prayer meeting organized by the Inter-Church Committee. Legal expert Shinbago Mugaddam confirmed their detention, noting that they were initially held at the Joint Military Cell on Nile Avenue in Madani before being transferred to Madani Prison after enduring a week of intense interrogation. The arrested individuals, identified as Akech Otin, Abraham John, Patrice Saeed, Peter Makuei, Rani Andraws, Ammanuel, and James, have all denied any affiliation with the RSF.
Meanwhile, an additional 12 Christians were arrested in Wad Rawah, Al Jazirah state, under similar accusations. Their exact whereabouts remain unknown, further intensifying concerns about the Sudanese government’s systematic targeting of Christian communities.
Systematic Persecution: Religious Freedom Under Threat
Church leaders in Sudan have strongly condemned these arrests, emphasizing the lack of evidence linking the detained Christians to the RSF. Despite efforts by local church leaders to secure their release through official channels, including a formal letter requesting their freedom, the Christians remain imprisoned without due process.
Legal experts and human rights organizations describe these arrests as part of a broader strategy to suppress Christianity in Sudan. Mugaddam stated, “This is a systematic targeting of Christians who are arrested without being taken to a court of law to seek justice.”
Madani city, on the Blue Nile River in Jazirah state, Sudan.
This crackdown comes amid sweeping legal changes that have reinstated broad powers to Sudan’s intelligence agencies. In May 2024, Sudan’s military-led government approved a law granting extensive immunity to intelligence officers, allowing them to detain, interrogate, and seize assets without fear of prosecution. The amendment effectively shields security forces from legal consequences, raising concerns about further human rights abuses against religious minorities.
Escalating Conflict and Its Impact on Christians
The arrests of these 19 Christians occur against the backdrop of a devastating civil war between the SAF and RSF, which has plunged Sudan into chaos since April 2023. The conflict has led to widespread violence, killing tens of thousands and displacing over 12.9 million people, according to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR).
Both warring factions, SAF and RSF, have targeted Christian communities, accusing them of siding with their opponents. Reports indicate that churches have been shelled, looted, and occupied by military forces, further exacerbating the persecution of Christians. The international Christian watchdog group Open Doors ranked Sudan No. 5 on its 2025 World Watch List, highlighting the country’s increasing hostility toward Christianity.
Despite previous efforts to improve religious freedoms, Sudan’s political instability has reversed much of the progress made after the 2019 ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir. The transitional civilian-military government had introduced reforms to protect religious minorities, including repealing apostasy laws that criminalized leaving Islam. However, following the October 2021 military coup, concerns over the return of oppressive Islamic law resurfaced, leading to renewed fears among Christian communities.
Global Response and the Future of Religious Freedom in Sudan
The international community has expressed concern over Sudan’s deteriorating human rights conditions, particularly regarding religious freedom. Sudan’s removal from the U.S. State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) in 2019 had initially signaled hope for progress. However, with the resurgence of religious persecution, calls are growing for Sudan to be reinstated on the CPC list.
Christian advocacy groups continue to pressure global policymakers to intervene, urging sanctions and diplomatic measures to hold Sudan’s military leadership accountable. The estimated 2 million Christians in Sudan, making up 4.5% of the country’s population, remain at risk as the government intensifies its crackdown.
As the conflict between SAF and RSF persists, Sudan’s Christian minority faces an uncertain future. The unjust imprisonment of 19 Christians serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in the country. Without decisive international action, the persecution of Christians in Sudan is likely to escalate, threatening the existence of a faith community that has long endured systemic oppression.