Suspecting that Islamic fundamentalists could exploit the situation in Sudan to cause mayhem, the Christians in that country have called for prayers.
There are about two million Christians in the crisis-ridden country.
Sudan has been in crisis following a power struggle between the regular army led by General Fattah al-Burham and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.
Christian Today quotes Fikiru Mehari, an Open Doors researcher for the East African region, as saying that the crisis is already having a toll on Christians.
Pastors and their flocks are already separated from one another as people hide away indoors.
Mehari said, “Church leaders I am speaking to are urging everyone to pray. Many fear Sudan is vulnerable to collapse. From this chaos, Islamist extremists could rise and impose harsh Sharia law. This would prove deadly for Christians.”
He stated further that whichever side wins the conflict, Christians may still be in danger.
He recounted, “When the dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted, we were promised an interim government followed by elections. It gave us hope, as persecution of Christians began to drop. That did not last long though, and I don’t see either leader offering the country the freedoms that we were promised.
“Our biggest concern is that it will give the Islamist extremists the chance to exploit the chaos to return Sudan to strict Islamic Sharia laws – promising people that this can bring peace and stability. For Christians and many others beside, it will bring untold suffering.
“Sudan’s church leaders are urging us to pray that this will not happen, that Islamists will not exploit this uncertainty and instability.”
Meanwhile, Christian Aid has said it is on alert in neighbouring Sudan following fears that the crisis will result to refugees being sent there.
“South Sudan is already facing a severe food emergency,” James Wani, Country Director of Christian Aid in South Sudan, said.
“There is a significant shortfall in humanitarian funding. If this conflict in Sudan doesn’t stop soon, and refugees start crossing the border in large numbers, then this will exacerbate an existing humanitarian crisis.”