The catastrophic civil war in Sudan has received very little attention from the media. Until 2011 Sudan was the largest and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa. Sudan is both an African and Arab country. Over 97% of the population are Sunni Muslims with a small Christian minority. Since 1983 the military regime tried to impose sharia law as part of its policy to “Islamicize” all of Sudan. In 2011, after decades of struggle by the mainly Christian and Animist south against rule by the Arab Muslim north, South Sudan voted for independence and Sudan was split into two countries.

The present civil war began in April 2023 and the two warring factions, the army and the Rapid Support Forces, are locked in a deadly power struggle. Almost 15,000 people have been killed, and more than more than 11 million people have been forced to leave their homes – the worst displacement crisis in the world. It is estimated that 25.6 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, need humanitarian aid. The head of the UN World Food Programme recently visited Sudan and told the BBC that, if a ceasefire is not reached, the country could see the world’s largest-ever humanitarian crisis with millions of people dying from starvation.

It seems that the resources of the international community are so stretched by the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon that there is little willingness to engage with the massive needs in Sudan. The army and the RSF are also not facilitating access for food and medical supplies. Meanwhile, millions of men, women and children in Sudan are homeless, starving and traumatised. Is there anything we can do?

We can pray to Almighty God for the suffering people of Sudan that somehow the war will come to an end, lives will be spared, and people will be able to rebuild their homes and communities. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ cares for the suffering people of Sudan. Psalm 68 says, “God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows.” One day God will judge in righteousness all who are committing evil deeds and they will receive what is due to them. Seeing the terrible sufferings of so many people in Sudan should also cause us to give thanks to God for the peace we enjoy, and the many blessings God daily gives us.