Remembering Sudan: A responsibility that we must all bear

A missionary warns that people have forgotten about Sudan, a country currently experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, due to a three-year-long civil war.

As citizens of the world, all people share the responsibility for peacebuilding, including in places the world has forgotten, such as Sudan.

That was the message a missionary priest in Sudan wanted to drive home in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

“The Catholic Church teaches that we share a common home. Distance should not be an issue. What is happening in Sudan, what is happening in Africa, to civilians, children, and women, concerns all of us in some way,” says Fr. Diego Dalle Carbonare, a Comboni missionary with experience in Egypt, Lebanon, and Sudan.

“One day, God will examine us, and many will be surprised when he asks about forgotten wars,” warns Fr. Diego. “As citizens, we have the duty to ask our governments to do whatever that is in their power to stop wars and to regulate the weapons and the gold trade, which is what funds wars such as the one in Sudan. We are all citizens of countries whose governments should be held to account for their commitment to peace in the world, everywhere. Therefore, to forget about Sudan, or any African country, is not to be taken lightly by us or by our governments.”

Sudan has been plagued by war for years. The current conflict, between competing factions of the military, began April 15, 2022. In March 2025, the Sudanese Armed Forces took control of Khartoum back from the Rapid Support Forces, allowing the Christian community to return to the capital. This was a very important step for the Christians of Sudan, who numbered around one million before the war and, after 27 months, were finally able to resume the practice of sacraments in the city, including the celebration of Mass and confession, the latter of which is an important aid for “turning the page from suffering to rebuilding.”

“God’s Word is powerful”

The missionary warns, however, that souls are not the only thing that need to be rebuilt in Khartoum. During his time in Sudan, Fr. Diego was also a teacher, and he says that many schools have lost both students and teachers because of the war. Now that they are returning, they will have to see if they can continue to teach in the same schools, or if they need to reorganize. Many families have fled the country or relocated, and Fr. Diego makes a point of sharing some of their stories.

“Many teachers and their families had to move from place to place; there are even people who fled to South Sudan, people who were almost graduating and suddenly found themselves without work and without a future. Some teachers were killed; one was captured and tortured. It was a tragic story. He was going to get married, he could have been a headmaster. And instead, he suffered a slow death.”

“Another teacher, a widow, was unable to leave Khartoum because she had to care for her elderly mother. The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, wanted to steal her car, and came to her house repeatedly. She told them they could just take it, but they wouldn’t leave her alone.”

“One day, they took her inside and told her they were going to kill her. She replied, ‘Fine, do what you must, but remember: he who lives by the sword will die by the sword.’ Startled, they asked what she meant, and she explained, ‘It’s from the Gospel, don’t you know?,’ and they fled.”

“She recounted the episode calmly but added, ‘God’s Word is powerful.’ The next day, they returned and asked for forgiveness.”

These stories and others show how “the war can bring out the worst in a person, but we also see many examples of Good Samaritans,” Fr. Diego explains. The community “needs pastors,” he says, which is why his main request of ACN is more prayer. “The missionaries depend on the prayers of friends and strangers. ACN is giving us a lot of support in our effort to rebuild this community, but there is still much to do.”

Aid to the Church in Need prays for the Christians of Sudan and has carried out several projects to support the Church in its mission throughout the country. At present, 15 projects of the pontifical foundation are underway in Sudanese territory.

– Daniel Castilla