5 Dead after RSF Bombs Churches in Sudan

7/14/2025 Sudan (International Christian Concern) — From June 9 to 11, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched coordinated airstrikes on three churches in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan.

The RSF targeted the Sudanese Episcopal Church, the African Inland Church, and the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in at least five deaths, including that of Father Luka Jumu. Dozens more were injured.

“The bombing of these churches is not only an attack on buildings but a brutal assault on the right to freedom of religion or belief,” said Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). “Three churches have been bombed in El Fasher… The RSF targets churches as part of a campaign to establish control, using these buildings as military bases and to conduct ethnically motivated violence against non‑Arab Christians.”

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been a critical battleground throughout Sudan’s prolonged conflict. Unlike many other regions under RSF control, El Fasher remains fiercely disputed. Churches in the city have historically served not only as places of worship but also as sanctuaries for people fleeing violence. Many displaced Christians find refuge within these churches, which makes the attacks even more devastating.

Witnesses to the latest attacks recalled the violence with horror.

“We woke up to the sound of explosions and intense shelling shaking our neighborhoods,” a resident said.

The attacks on churches are part of growing religious tensions in Sudan during the past several years. Since the outbreak of civil war in 2023, the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, has been targeting minority groups, especially Christians and other non-Muslims, in various parts of the country. Along with the attacks, churches have been looted, and many families have been forced to flee.

Father Jumu was known for his dedication to his community and his efforts to promote peace and unity among Darfur’s diverse population. His death has been mourned deeply by his congregation and the wider Christian community.

Pastor Ibrahim Okot reflected on the war’s effect from a religious perspective.

“The war has significantly impacted the Christian community in the country,” he said. “Soldiers have targeted Christians who had previously been protected by the constitution before the nation descended into civil war.”

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Der Beitrag 5 Tote nach RSF-Bombenangriffen auf Kirchen im Sudan erschien zuerst auf International Christian Concern.

5 Tote nach RSF-Bombenangriffen auf Kirchen im Sudan

5 Tote nach RSF-Bombenangriffen auf Kirchen im Sudan

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