Sudan (MNN) — Sudan’s civil war may seem straightforward: the army and rebel militia are fighting for a fourth consecutive year to see who will control the country.

However, John*, a Gospel worker focused on Sudan, says the reality is far more complex.

Ethnic violence fuels conflict

First, the ethnic undertones of the war pit Arabs against Africans. John says, “The RSF works on another principle, not just gaining strategic locations, but they are always looking for opportunities to eliminate any opposition from Black African tribes.”

Darfur, one of the war’s early hot spots, has its roots in ethnic violence. “When you look at the genocide that took place back in the early 2000s, it was Muslim-on-Muslim,” John says.

“The tribes of Darfur were some of the strongest Muslim believers, but they resisted Arabization.”

El Obeid, currently surrounded by the RSF, is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing drive to rid Sudan of certain tribes. “The same (ethnic war) is true of Kordofan, where we’re seeing the siege of the capital,” John says.

“That area, even under Bashir, was constantly bombarded and attacked by the government to dominate the Black African tribes.”

World leaders view Sudan as a prize worth winning.
(AI photo generated by ChatGPT)

Foreign powers compete for influence

Second, the conflict has expanded from an internal dispute to a regional proxy war. Research indicates that at least 10 nations have aligned themselves with one of the warring parties.

“The UAE is supporting the RSF. Saudi Arabia has supported the Sudan Armed Forces. Russia has been involved in Sudan for decades, looting its gold through militias in Darfur,” John lists as examples.

World leaders view Sudan as a prize worth winning. “It has oil. It has gold. It has the largest watershed in Africa. It has immense untapped wealth and is strategically located,” John says.

“Sudan, even though no one talks about it, is a jewel.”

Believers serve refugees in Jesus’ name

On the ground, millions struggle to survive a manmade catastrophe. Since the war began in April 2023, over 9 million people have been uprooted, and a further 2.5 million have fled to neighboring countries, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis.

Church planters suffer alongside the general population. We can’t name the school of mission for security purposes, but after graduating, “They went back to their areas,” John says.

“They’ve done church planting, and now they themselves are refugees and internally displaced. And they continue the ministry.”

(Representative AI photo created with ChatGPT)

Believers offer holistic care to their fellow Sudanese with the love and compassion of Jesus. You can support this work through John’s organization.

In refugee camps, “We provide trauma healing. We provide water. We provide medical attention at no cost,” John says.

Every outreach is an opportunity to tell people that “God is not silent in this horrific situation,” he adds.

Ask God to protect believers serving refugees with medical care, trauma healing, clean water, and the hope of Christ.

“The power of the Gospel in the middle of war is that Satan is destroying people through all of these external things, and the Gospel comes and preserves them. When they accept Jesus Christ, life begins on the inside,” John says.

“The enemy creates loss, then grief over loss, then fear of greater loss, because his goal is to have the belief that all is lost. [Jesus] comes and says, ‘I save you. You are not lost.’”

*Pseudonym

Header image is a representative AI photo generated by ChatGPT.