Christians are being targeted for attack in the Muslim country of Sudan, as the UN finds evidence of war crimes, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
The religious liberty charity says the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for Sudan has found reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Sudan since April 2023.
The ongoing violence between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country over the past 500 days, leading to widespread suffering and displacement.
The UN has found violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, which include the targeting of civilians, inhuman and degrading treatment, forced displacement of civilians, and the recruitment of children in conflict.
Speaking to Premier Christian News, a CSW spokeswoman said, ‘Christians have been targeted, particularly by the RSF. There have been attempts to force them to change their religion. In certain cases, there have also been attacks on places of worship.’
Christians make up about five per cent of the population in Sudan, where the overwhelming majority are Muslim. Christians are facing increasing threats from Islamic militants, with radicals being stirred up by the power struggle which erupted in April 2023 between the National Army and the RSF.
CSW’s UN Officer Claire Denman said, ‘The conclusion and implementation of a monitored unconditional ceasefire is a key immediate step towards ending the suffering and supporting efforts to address the dire humanitarian situation that has brought millions to the verge of starvation.’