A priest and two church guards were killed in an attack on a Catholic church in Kauda, South Kordofan, in Sudan’s Nuba mountains on 19 June, following several months of violence between tribes in the region.

Father Youhanna Al Amin Nyaroum, from the predominantly Christian Kawaleeb tribe, and church guards Youhan Marcus and Joahn Adam were killed when fighters from the Otoro tribe – also predominantly Christian – attacked and looted the Catholic church in Kauda for the second consecutive day. A third church guard was injured.

Tensions broke out in Kauda approximately three months ago when the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM/N), which is the ruling authority in the city, demarcated land between the Otoro and Shawaya tribes, prompting some members of the former to attack Shawaya villages. Attacks have since extended to the Kawaleeb tribe, to which the commander of the SPLM/N, Izzat Koko, belongs, and CSW sources speculate that this may have been the motive for the killing of Father Al Amin, since both the Otoro and Kawaleeb tribes are predominantly Christian. There may also be an economic motive arising from shortages of food and medicine among Otoro fighters.

Churches have been widely used as shelters over the course of the conflict in Sudan, particularly in the Nuba Mountains, from where the majority of Sudanese Christians originate. Attacks on places of worship and religious leaders have also been widely documented throughout the conflict, and both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have used places of worship for military purposes.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW extends deep condolences to the families, loved ones and community of Father Youhanna Al Amin Nyaroum, Youhan Marcus and Joahn Adam, and we wish the church guard who was injured in this attack a swift and full recovery. Attacks on places of worship should always be condemned, but are particularly concerning in a region known for peaceful coexistence between religious and ethnic communities. We call on authorities in the area to take concrete steps to diffuse tensions and protect citizens, and once again urge the international community to increase efforts to bring an end to the devastating conflict in Sudan.’