Cathedral damaged during fighting in Sudan
Violence erupted in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on 15 April. Hundreds have been killed, with many being unable to leave their homes due to the fighting. In El Obeid, the local cathedral was damaged during fighting.
By ACN Staff
The cathedral in El Obeid. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
On Saturday, 15 April, fighting erupted in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum. Tension had been brewing in Sudan since a coup in October 2021 brought down a transitional government which had itself come to power following the removal of Sudanese dictator Umar al-Bashir in April 2019. The current conflict is between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by the president, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the legal paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by the vice-president, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti. The fighting in the capital has left hundreds dead and thousands injured as many countries scramble to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.
Kinga von Schierstaedt. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
ACN’s head of projects in Sudan, Kinga von Schierstaedt, spoke to Maria Lozano about the situation in the country and how this dramatic eruption of violence has impacted the local Church.
Kinga reported that the fighting is heavy in the Sudanese capital:
“I’ve just had a phone call with a project partner, who is in the North of Khartoum, close to a place where the Rapid Support Forces are holed up. During the call I could hear the shooting in the background. He says that the streets are empty, like in a ghost town: there are no cars moving about, you can’t see anyone or hear any voices in the neighbourhood.”
Kinga also reported that military aircraft were flying over the city to attack the RSF’s positions. ACN project partners cannot go outside due to the fierce fighting and have to stay at home. This is a big issue, as the fighting began very abruptly no one had bought extra food. Electricity supply in the city has also been disrupted. Even worse, there is no running water, with temperatures in the shade reaching over 40° C.
Khartoum. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Kinga explained that the fighting began with Hemedti attempting to overthrow al-Burhan. The conflict is not ideological, as Kinga elaborated further:
“Actually, this is not about ideologies, but about who will govern and how, about interests, power, wealth and the integration of the RSF. Hemedti sees his RSF as decisive for the security of the country and is demanding more power. The negotiations about the integration of this paramilitary group into the army were a stumbling block between the two, and Al-Burhan’s decision to relocate the RSF troops in various parts of the country, since he saw Hemedti as potentially undermining his power, was the spark that led to the attempted overthrow.
But there is another important motive. Sudan is Africa’s third largest producer of gold, and Hemedti owns gold mines in the north of the country. Up to 16 billion dollars go from there each year to the United Arab Emirates. Hemedti has made gold his business. Gold is his power and one of his interests.
At the same time the army has a huge number of buildings and businesses of all kinds, which it would be reluctant to hand over to a civilian government.”
Clashes have also occurred in Merowe, El Obeid, and the Darfur region. The fighting is particularly heavy in El Obeid, with the square in front of the cathedral has become a battleground. Explosions have damaged the cathedral and the adjoining priest’s house. Thankfully the priest had taken shelter elsewhere and was unharmed.
The interior of the cathedral at El Obeid. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Kinga reported the impact that the conflict has had on the Church in Sudan:
“The Catholic Church in Sudan is very small, as over 95% of the population is Muslim. As this is not an ideological or religious conflict, all citizens are equally affected. Believers, priests and Religious are unable to leave their houses. Mass on Sunday has been stopped, and priests are no longer celebrating daily Mass in the church. In the crisis zones the life of faith continues only in people’s houses.”
Sudan was already in a dire economic situation. The current conflict has made things even more difficult for regular people.
ACN’s contacts in Sudan are fearful that the conflict will not end soon as Kinga relayed:
“At the moment, positions are incredibly hardened. Our contact people say that if neither group gives way or wins, then they can’t believe that there will be a quick end to the conflict. We are all praying that a government will come to power in Sudan that seeks justice and peace. That is what all our contacts are asking for. They tell us that at the moment we cannot support them with material help. They tell me: ‘The one thing which can give us strength now is knowing that we are carried in prayer.’”
Please join us in prayer for peace in Sudan.