Last week, in the center of Port Sudan’s market area, two of the oldest churches in Sudan were vandalized with red graffiti by two unknown persons. The desecration occurred in broad daylight. 

On the exterior wall of the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, they painted the Islamic Shahadah: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.” Alongside this is the Quranic verse “There is no God but He, the Lord of the Honorable Throne.” Painted on the Orthodox Church were the words, “Allah is eternal.” 

These churches are casualties of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Response Force (RSF), which began in April 2023. Currently, SAF — a Muslim group — controls the city, targeting vulnerable citizens and sparking hate speech among citizens. 

Port Sudan has become home to thousands of citizens displaced by the war, as it was considered a safe place from the fighting. However, the incident has raised alarms among religious minorities about escalating discrimination and the lack of involvement from authorities. 

Though the churches are opposite the police station and next to government offices, the police have not investigated the incident. While the leaders of the evangelical church did not want to cause more tension by filing an official complaint, one church member stated, “Only God knows what will happen next if such a hate crime is ignored.” 

On Nov. 28, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commented on the incident on X. 

“It is disheartening to hear of the reported vandalism of two historic churches in Sudan, especially as the Christian season of Advent draws near,” they said. 

On Dec. 2, the Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) urged local officials to get involved and conduct a “prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident and to ensure accountability for those responsible.” 

“Our society cannot afford another tool of division — especially one rooted in religion,” the report said. “These attacks risk inflaming tensions and widening the already-deep social fractures created by the conflict.” 

Story by Bella Agnello 

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