During a terrifying four-hour ordeal, masked gunmen affiliated with one of Sudan's warring factions attacked one of Khartoum's oldest churches, firing at church officials while searching for cash, gold, and women, according to two witnesses.
Residents have often attributed such raids on homes, factories, banks, and places of worship to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been engaged in clashes with the army in greater Khartoum over the past month.
The RSF, denying responsibility for the raid on the Mar Girgis (St. George) Coptic church, has stated that its troops are working to protect civilians and that those committing abuses are criminals who have stolen RSF uniforms.
The attack on the church, located in the Masalma neighbourhood of Omdurman, began shortly before midnight on May 13.
According to the witnesses, the attackers appeared to be in their late 20s, with at least one individual who did not speak Arabic.
They had scarves covering their faces, leaving only their eyes visible, and wore mismatched clothing, including some items resembling RSF uniforms.
The witnesses, speaking to Reuters by phone, revealed that the gunmen fired bullets at a priest, nuns, and sextons, injuring five of them. They shouted demands for gold, money, and dollars while insulting the church leaders and workers, calling them infidels and urging them to convert to Islam.
Approximately 5% of Sudan's population of 46 million is estimated to be Christian, comprising 36 denominations, as per data from the Pew Research Centre and the Sudan Council of Churches. Sudan's Coptic church is connected to the Egyptian Coptic church based in Cairo.
During the attack, the assailants held the priest at gunpoint, threatened him with a dagger, and took him to his house, where they stole a safe containing gold and cash and a car, according to the witnesses.
They also vandalized the church offices and a sanctuary used by Bishop Sarabamon, the top Coptic Church leader in Sudan, who was present during the attack and assaulted with a chair and sticks but went unrecognized by the gunmen.
The church had an annexe housing elders and orphan girls, some of whom were able to hide during the attack.
Both warring factions blamed each other for the assault, with the army accusing the RSF and the RSF asserting that an “extremist” group affiliated with the army was responsible.
In Al Amarat district, Khartoum, an Anglican church reported being raided and “occupied” by RSF forces, who stole a car and damaged the church office doors.
RSF fighters also entered the Coptic church of the Virgin Mary in Khartoum, forcing the staff to evacuate, according to an employee familiar with the incident and social media posts by activists.
The witness accounts were corroborated by photos showing damaged doors, a broken safe, and scattered personal belongings in the apartments used by the priests, which were raided by the same gunmen who attacked Mar Girgis on Thursday.
Despite the repeated raids, one witness expressed his belief that the incidents were a result of the general turmoil engulfing Sudan rather than being driven by sectarianism, stating, “I don't believe they are targeting the Christians as much as it's all chaos, chaos, chaos. They stormed the houses of the Muslims as well. They are looting and stealing.”
