Bishop Raises Plight of Sudan's Christians
The Bishop of Winchester told the House of Lords that Christians caught in Sudan's civil war face growing danger.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Christianity
Live Poll
Should the UK keep spending £146 million a year on humanitarian aid to Sudan?
The Bishop of Winchester raised the plight of Sudanese Christians caught in the civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces during a House of Lords debate last week. Churches are being used as shelters from aerial bombardment, and both sides have used churches for military purposes.
Why it matters
The conflict, which began in April 2023 after the two factions that had previously been aligned turned against each other, is placing religious communities at risk. The Nuba mountains are home to much of Sudan's historic Christian community, making the situation a concern for religious freedom and humanitarian access.
The UK government provides £146 million in humanitarian support to Sudan every year, according to the government's statement in the debate. The statement did not detail how much of that funding reaches religious communities specifically.
The players
Bishop of Winchester
A senior Church of England bishop who sits in the House of Lords and used a parliamentary debate to draw attention to the situation of Sudanese Christians.
Rapid Support Forces
A paramilitary force that has been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023, after the two factions had previously been aligned.
Sudanese Armed Forces
Sudan's national military, which has been fighting the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 in a civil war that has affected the country's Christian communities.
The details
Christians in Sudan have petitioned the Premier League to intervene against Manchester City, which is owned by the UAE's deputy prime minister, over allegations that the UAE funnelled equipment to the RSF via an airport in Chad. The UAE denies the allegations.
Timeline
April 2023: Sudan's civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began.
Last week: The Bishop of Winchester raised the plight of Sudanese Christians in a House of Lords debate.
Religious Landscape
Sudan has been independent for roughly 70 years, and the Nuba mountains remain home to much of the country's historic Christian community. The current civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has placed that community under new strain.
Christian communities in Sudan are taking shelter in churches from aerial bombardment, and the civil war has changed daily life for those who remain. For readers following the conflict, the situation illustrates how religious sites can become both places of refuge and targets in wartime.
The takeaway
Religious communities in conflict zones often rely on churches and other sacred sites as shelter, which makes their protection a humanitarian issue as well as a religious one. Following how governments and institutions respond to these situations can help readers understand the stakes for vulnerable communities.
Further reading
For more on faith communities and religious life around the world, see the Christianity section.
Live Poll
Should the UK keep spending £146 million a year on humanitarian aid to Sudan?
