Continued Persecution of Christians in the Sudan

Bombings in Sudan Kill Christians, Destroy Church Building [Excerpts]

The Sudanese government’s bombing of predominantly Christian, ethnic Nuba civilians in South Kordofan state has taken more lives the first three months of this year – possibly including Muslims, sources said.

Two civilians were killed and 12 seriously wounded on March 19 when a Sudan government Antonov airplane dropped bombs on them in the Hadra area, local sources told Morning Star News. The identities and religion of those killed and wounded were not available, but there are some Muslim Nuba people in the area, they said.

The government’s Russian-made Antonov airplanes dropped bombs that killed six Christians on Jan. 9 and destroyed a church building on March 11, sources said. Since South Sudan split from Sudan in a 2011 referendum, Nuba people in Sudan’s South Kordofan state believe the government’s goal of quashing Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) rebels is also meant to rid the area of non-Arabs and Christianity.

The March 11 bombing in the Angolo area reduced the Evangelical Church building to ashes, sources said. A store attached to the church building was also destroyed, but no injuries were reported.

Nuba Mountain Christians increasingly feel they are being driven into South Sudan, especially as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said post-secession Sudan will adhere more exclusively to Islam and Arabic culture.

At the same time, near the capital city of Khartoum, a continuing wave of arrests of workers at Christian organizations has deeply unsettled the Christian community. A force composed of both police and National Intelligence and Security Services on Feb. 25 arrested five Christian from three Christian ministries in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city on the other side of the Nile River, sources said.

The workers were released shortly after their arrests but must report regularly to the NISS office.

“The situation is tense for Christians,” a source said. “But thank God He hears the prayers of His children around the world.”

http://morningstarnews.org/2013/03/bombings-in-sudan-kill-christians-destroy-church-building/