Local authority halts reconstruction and worship in Coptic church

The Coptic Community in Wad Diab Al Gaba in Northern State, Sudan, has been prevented by the local authority from worshipping in, or completing reconstruction of, their church building.

For 30 years the Coptic Community in Wad Diab Al Gaba had used a church building that was constructed using basic materials on land belonging to Mr Zaki Wanees Abadeer, a Copt.

In 2019 heavy rains damaged the structure of the building severely, and the community of 65 families numbering approximately 350 members decided to demolish the existing structure and raise funds to construct a building using bricks and mortar. In December 2025, when they had almost completed the structure, Muslim extremists in the area forcibly prevented work on the site from continuing. The extremists filed a complaint to the local authority against Mr Abadeer, who was in turn ordered to stop all worship activities and construction work until a permit was issued for the church.

The Coptic Church had attempted to obtain permission to have the building officially recognised and registered, but the local authority has refused to issue the necessary permits. Issues surrounding the informal construction of places of worship have been a long-standing regulatory concern in Sudan. After decades of use, the state has often applied discriminatory zoning rules, demolishing churches but offering support in the construction of mosques.

During the course of the war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that began in April 2023, places of worship have beenattacked by both parties to the conflict. The current case raises legitimate concerns regarding the legal architecture that protects the right of Christian communities to renovate or rebuild places of worship that have been damaged in the conflict.

Additionally, it highlights the role of social pressure on vulnerable religious groups like the Coptic community in Wad Diab Al Gaba. Earlier, inJuly 2025 dozens of extremists accompanied by members of the SAF and police officers demolished the Pentecostal Church premises in El Haj Yousif, El Shegla in Khartoum, including the church, its administrative offices, guest house and other facilities and attached buildings. The church was originally constructed in the early 1990s.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘We urge the authority in Northern State, Sudan to grant this church the necessary permits to enable them to continue worshipping peaceably and to complete the reconstruction of their place of worship. This community of 65 families has used the church for 30 years and is now left without a place to gather safely, which violates their right to freedom of religion or belief as guaranteed by the constitution and Sudan’s international obligations. The context of a war does not permit this type of repression of the right to FoRB, and we call for urgent action to be taken to resolve this issue. We also call on the international community to ensure that any negotiations regarding post-conflict reconstruction include the needs of vulnerable religious communities who may have lost access to both registered and unregistered properties, and whose buildings may require comprehensive reconstruction.’