By CISA
PORT SUDAN, MAY 13, 2025 (CISA) – A coalition of major Christian organizations has strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence in Sudan, denouncing a series of deadly drone strikes on Port Sudan launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) beginning May 8.
In a joint statement released Monday, the World Council of Churches (WCC), All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA), and ACT Alliance expressed their “deepest concern and strongest condemnation” over the attacks.
Port Sudan, once a critical safe haven for displaced civilians and a key logistical hub for humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, has come under sustained aerial assault, the statement noted. Over four days of bombardments, critical infrastructure—including the Osman Digna airbase, Port Sudan International Airport, fuel depots, seaport, and residential areas—was deliberately targeted, shattering the city’s relative calm and triggering further civilian displacement.
“These are grave violations of international humanitarian law,” the ecumenical bodies declared, noting “Attacks on civilian infrastructure and spaces of refuge constitute war crimes.”
The faith-based organizations warned that the violence imperils both the prospects for peace and the safety of Sudanese civilians and humanitarian personnel, including church-affiliated workers in the region.
The Church bodies called on the international community, African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN Security Council to take urgent and decisive action to halt the attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
They renewed their call for an immediate ceasefire and urged all parties to return to peaceful dialogue and uphold the protection of civilians.
“As churches and faith-based actors rooted in justice, peace, and dignity, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Sudan,” the statement read. “We will continue to pray, speak out, and act until peace is restored and a just, inclusive Sudan becomes a reality.”
Port Sudan Strikes Signal Escalation of Conflict
The RSF drone strikes from May 4–6 mark a significant and alarming shift in Sudan’s civil war, now entering its third year. The coastal city of Port Sudan, effectively the country’s administrative capital since conflict erupted in Khartoum in April 2023, was previously untouched by direct combat.
The first wave of attacks on May 4 struck the Osman Digna airbase near the international airport, damaging a warehouse and ammunition depot. On May 5, drones hit a fuel storage facility, sparking a major fire. A third wave on May 6 targeted the airport, city center, army headquarters, and hotels often used by foreign officials, close to the residence of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which controls Port Sudan, blamed the RSF for the attacks, stating that the drones approached from the sea, raising suspicions about external support or staging. Though the RSF has not claimed responsibility, it possesses long-range strike capabilities and has used drones extensively since losing control of Khartoum in March.
Port Sudan lies hundreds of kilometers from known RSF positions, as does Kassala, another eastern town recently targeted.
The RSF, still entrenched in western Sudan including Darfur and parts of Kordofan, has shifted tactics since its retreat from Khartoum, increasingly using drones to strike SAF-controlled territories. Meanwhile, the SAF continues to carry out air raids on RSF-held areas, including regular bombings in Nyala, Darfur.
Regional Implications
The attacks on Port Sudan threaten to widen Sudan’s conflict and deepen regional instability. On May 6, Sudanese authorities announced the severing of diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing it of supporting the RSF. The UAE maintains close relations with several neighboring countries, raising concerns of a proxy conflict.
Conversely, observers point out that the strikes may draw increased involvement from Egypt, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia, Red Sea states that align more closely with the SAF, due to fears of the war spilling into their borders.
Following the attacks, the United Nations suspended humanitarian flights to Port Sudan, temporarily halting the delivery of critical aid in a country now facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
