A Sudanese refugee who recently embraced the Christian faith has been pushed out of his job and lodging in Uganda after relatives discovered his conversion, while churches in eastern Sudan report a new incident of intimidation.
Essam Juma Abdelkreem, 27, left Khartoum after fresh violence and made his way through Ethiopia and South Sudan before eventually settling for a time in Uganda. During his journey he began visiting church services, later deciding to follow Christ. Christian workers say he completed several months of discipleship and was baptised in June.
After arriving at the Bweyale refugee settlement in northern Uganda, he contacted an uncle who invited him to help manage a family shop in Kampala. The work provided a stable income, and for a short period he felt he was beginning to rebuild his life.
However, the uncle’s wife became suspicious when she noticed that Abdelkreem no longer took part in Islamic prayers and did not attend the mosque. She later searched his belongings and found a Bible and Christian study documents. According to Abdelkreem, the discovery led to an immediate confrontation, and on 25 October he was ordered to leave the shop and the family home without notice. With nowhere else to turn, he returned to South Sudan, where local Christians have offered temporary shelter. He says he is grateful for their help but is anxious not to be a burden and hopes to find a way to support himself.
In a separate development, Christians in Port Sudan were shaken when a man was caught on CCTV writing Islamic slogans on the wall of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church on 26 November. Footage shared on social media shows a man stepping out of a vehicle with a paint container before marking the church wall with religious declarations. The incident sparked outrage among Christian leaders in the city, who described it as a deliberate attempt to frighten the Christian community at a time of national instability. One church leader warned that such acts could encourage more extreme behaviour if left unchallenged.
A pastor in Port Sudan said that a nearby Coptic Orthodox church had also been targeted and confirmed that the authorities were informed. Local Christians are calling for a proper investigation and assurances of protection.
Sudan remains overwhelmingly Muslim, with Christians making up only a small percentage of the population. The country continues to rank among the most challenging places in the world for believers, according to international religious-freedom monitors.
Adapted from Morning Star News.
