“There is a growing fear among the South Sudanese Christians, so they remain indoors in order to avoid being arrested.” 

That is how one church leader described the atmosphere in Khartoum after five South Sudanese Christians were arrested during a funeral prayer gathering on Aug. 16. 

What was meant to be a quiet moment of mourning in El Haj Yousif, a neighborhood in North Khartoum, quickly turned into a scene of fear. Among those taken was Pastor Peter Perpeny, a well-known leader with the Presbyterian Church of Sudan. He and a small group of Christians were gathered for a burial service, but by the end of the meeting, he and four others were in handcuffs. The group was taken to Omdurman Prison, where they remained uncertain about what would come next.  

“We were simply holding a burial service,” Pastor Perpeny said. “It was meant to be a quiet, respectful moment to honor the departed. Instead, it ended with arrests. One of the women with us was told to pay nearly a thousand dollars or stay in prison. That is not justice.” 

For the Christian community in Khartoum, many of whom are refugees or migrants from South Sudan, the arrests have sent shockwaves. Gatherings that once offered comfort to the community are now dangerous. People are avoiding church services, prayer meetings, and even leaving home as fear grows. 

“People are afraid to leave their houses,” a church leader said. “They know they could be picked up at any time, not for anything they have done, but because of who they are. Church used to be a safe place. Now, even gathering to pray feels like a risk. This fear has completely changed how we live.” 

This is not the first time Christians, particularly South Sudanese, have been targeted. Earlier in 2025, 19 Christians were arrested in Madani, accused of being linked to rebel groups opposing the government. In Shendi, seven displaced Christians were arrested and tortured. Their trial lasted only minutes, and rights groups say they did not receive fair legal treatment. 

“Sudan has been locked in a brutal internal conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces,” another church leader explained. “In many areas, law and order has collapsed, and in places controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, like parts of North Khartoum, civilians are often caught in the middle. That collapse has made it easier for religious minorities to be targeted.” 

With Sudan ranked No. 5 on the 2025 Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians face extreme persecution, many in the Christian community remain cautious and concerned for their safety. 

Hostility is coming not only from authorities but also from online extremists, who have been calling for South Sudanese Christians to be arrested. Muslim extremists have taken to social media, urging officials to arrest South Sudanese Christians. 

In Sudan today, choosing to worship publicly has become a risk. For many, faith is no longer simply a personal conviction; it has become a binding rule. Back in Khartoum, Pastor Perpeny’s congregation gathers quietly, if at all. Some pray in private, others wait in silence. And yet, even behind closed doors, they continue to pray. 

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