7/25/2025 Sudan (International Christian Concern) — On July 8, bulldozers, armed forces, and police arrived at the Pentecostal church in the El-Haj Yousif area of Khartoum North’s East Nile District. 

Christians then watched as civilians helped them tear the building apart. No official reason was given for the destruction at the time.  Those who attempted to take photos or video of the destruction were stopped. Members of the church were unable to save items inside the church.  

Officials later informed church leaders that the demolition was part of an effort to remove “unregulated” buildings throughout Khartoum. The motivation for the demolition also has roots in the civil war of 2023, when Sudan became an even harsher environment for Christians, who were often caught in the crossfire, in addition to facing ongoing persecution.  

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had declared Khartoum had been freed from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting since the start of the 2023 civil war. Both sides are known to have attacked churches. 

Rafat Samir, chairman of the Evangelical Community Council for Sudan, warned of the SAF’s “de facto government” for the church in Sudan.  

“People are extremely traumatized, and this impacts our witness,” he said. “Pray for Christians to receive emotional and spiritual healing from what they have seen in the war. It’s not just our buildings that have been broken down, but also our people.”  

The SAF may destroy more churches, he said — a lasting result of the war and the loss of religious freedom in Sudan.  

“They will target all churches in the outlying areas of the main cities and demolish them with a direct attack,” Rafat said.  

More than 100 churches have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the war. 

“They will not allow the reconstruction of churches that were bombed and burned during the war,” Rafat added. “There is a decision issued by the Urban Planning Department not to maintain or rebuild any building affected by the war without a permit, and a very large percentage of our churches are not permitted because the state does not give a permit to any church, no matter how many conditions it meets.” 

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