Church leaders in Sudan are appealing for prayer and support after authorities warned that a church building in the capital could be demolished without notice.
Leaders of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) in the Mayo Angola district of southern Khartoum said local officials recently informed them that their church premises may be removed at any time. The warning was delivered during a visit by planning and land department representatives, who reportedly advised the congregation to prepare for possible action.
No date for demolition was provided, leaving church members uncertain about the future of their place of worship. Leaders are also concerned that they may receive no compensation if the building is destroyed.
Officials have reportedly claimed that the church stands on land designated for a roadway and is located in an area not approved for religious buildings. Church representatives reject these claims, insisting that the property has been used as a church site for many years.
The threat has prompted concern among Christians across Sudan, with many taking to social media to call for prayer. The Sudan Council of Churches has also criticised the move and urged authorities to protect churches from demolition.
The church building was established in 1991 after the congregation lost a previous worship centre that was demolished several years earlier.
Christians form a small minority in Sudan, where the vast majority of the population follows Islam. Church communities have long argued that obtaining land approval for places of worship remains difficult, leaving many congregations vulnerable to legal disputes and demolition orders.
The latest warning follows another incident involving a church property. In July 2025, a church complex belonging to the Sudan Pentecostal Church was demolished in the Khartoum North area. According to reports, heavy machinery accompanied by police and security personnel arrived at the site and began tearing down the buildings without prior notice.
The complex included a worship hall and administrative offices and had served the congregation since the early 1990s. Church leaders said they were not asked to provide ownership documents before the demolition took place.
Authorities later stated that the action was part of a wider campaign targeting structures considered to be unregulated. However, Christian organisations and church leaders expressed concern that the incident represented a serious violation of religious freedom.
International watchdog groups continue to monitor the situation facing Christians in Sudan. The country remains one of the world's most challenging places for believers, according to recent assessments of religious freedom conditions.
Although Sudan introduced reforms in recent years and was removed from several international watchlists related to religious freedom concerns, church leaders say significant challenges remain for Christian communities seeking to worship freely and maintain their places of worship.
Adapted and rewritten from reporting by Morning Star News.
