A new United Nations report has accused both sides in Sudan’s ongoing civil war of committing widespread atrocities, including attacks on civilians, sexual violence and the destruction of vital infrastructure.

The report, A War of Atrocities, released by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), found that both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were responsible for serious violations of international law. More than 12 million people had been forcibly displaced as of July 2025.

Civilians were reportedly targeted based on their real or perceived affiliations. In Darfur, the RSF was accused of directing attacks against non-Arab communities, while similar violence in Gezira state was attributed to the SAF.

Church leaders have also raised concerns about increasing religious persecution. On 16th August, five Christians, including Presbyterian pastor Peter Perpeny, were arrested in North Khartoum while attending a funeral prayer. Local leaders alleged the arrests were part of a wider crackdown on Christian foreigners.

Rafat Samir, a Sudanese church leader now in exile and working with Open Doors, said Christians, most of whom come from non-Arab tribes, face multiple layers of persecution.

“For a Christian, it’s always been a problem to live in Sudan,” he said. “Islamic governments since independence have had no tolerance for other religions, tribes, or languages.”

He added that many believers have been forced to flee or survive on animal feed amid severe shortages. “We often felt like we were left alone… forsaken,” he said. “But we continue to pray and believe the church will remain a light and bring healing.”

Open Doors has launched its Arise Africa campaign, calling for global action to protect, support and restore the 16.2 million Christians displaced by violence across sub-Saharan Africa.