(CWR, Yaoundé) As the conflict in Sudan enters its fourth year, major faith-based organizations are uniting to demand immediate international action to protect civilians. In an April 15th statement, groups including ACT Alliance, Caritas Internationalis, and Islamic Relief Worldwide called for an immediate, enforceable ceasefire and accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.
“As people of faith, we call for an end to the violence in Sudan and urge the international community to secure an immediate, enforceable ceasefire and scale up the humanitarian response without delay,” the statement read. “At a time of deep global instability, the defense of international law, including international humanitarian law, must be a non‑negotiable.”
“As people of faith, we know a better world is possible,” says Alistair Dutton, Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis, in the statement. “Stop the hatred and war. Silence the weapons. Build a brighter future for this beautiful land.”
The human cost described by these organizations is staggering. “Since April 2023, the war has continued to devastate civilian life and cause vast destruction of critical civilian and humanitarian infrastructure, including humanitarian offices and warehouses being seized, looted or destroyed,” they noted.
Father John Gbemboyo, the Pastoral and Social Communication Coordinator for the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, confirmed this grim reality in an interview with CWR. He highlighted severe restrictions on movement and the collapse of basic services.
“It seems difficult to get the full scale of how people are suffering in Sudan due to the active conflict,” Father Gbemboyo said.
“The conflict is worsening the situation of the people each day in terms of shortages of food, medicines. There is an increase in cases of malnutrition and other diseases among the people who are confined by the conflict to some areas.”
He added that distrust between warring parties is hampering aid efforts. “It is very difficult for the humanitarian organizations to operate freely due to suspicion among the warring parties.”
The statistics back up the priest’s observations. The United Nations has described the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, more than two-thirds of the population—an estimated 33.7 million people—are now in need of humanitarian assistance.
Data from the UN refugee agency’s Operational Data Portal, as of April 2026, indicates that nearly twelve million people have been forcibly displaced, including over 6.8 million internally and close to 4.5 million who have fled to neighboring countries. Due to restricted media access, the exact death toll is unknown, with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
This catastrophe has deep roots. Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023 following a fallout between the two generals who ousted Omar El Bashir in 2019: Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (generally referred to as “Hemedti”) of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
While the two found unity in removing the dictator, they disagreed on timelines for integrating the RSF into the army and returning the country to civilian rule. Their ambitions to control the nation’s power and wealth eventually pushed them into a bitter conflict.
However, the war is being fueled by foreign interference. Michelle Gavin, a CFR senior fellow for Africa policy studies, stated that the conflict “has been enabled by external powers who continue to provide arms and financing” to both sides.
Reports indicate that Egypt maintains close ties to the SAF, while the RSF has reportedly received military supplies from Khalifa Haftar, the Russian-backed Libyan warlord. Russian influence deepened in February 2025 when Sudan confirmed a deal allowing Russia to establish a naval base on the Red Sea coast.
By February 2026, reports emerged that Ethiopia was hosting camps to train RSF soldiers. Meanwhile, the UAE faces persistent accusations from the Sudanese army and U.S. lawmakers regarding arms supplies to the RSF—claims Abu Dhabi denies, despite The Wall Street Journal reporting increased Emirati deliveries in late 2025.
The crisis threatens to destabilize the entire region. It jeopardizes economic cooperation on Nile water resources and major oil pipelines transiting Sudan. Environmental factors, including devastating droughts and floods driven by climate change, have further displaced populations and strained natural resources. Additionally, Sudan’s Red Sea ports face security risks from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, while the SAF has reportedly utilized Iranian drones—a connection both Tehran and Khartoum deny.
Diplomatic efforts by neighbors in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel have so far failed to stem the violence. A UN fact-finding mission found evidence of war crimes, including starvation and sexual violence.
“We cannot allow Sudan to descend further into a nightmare of violence, hunger, and despair,” UN experts warned in October. “The deliberate targeting of civilians, combined with the use of starvation, sexual violence, disappearance and displacement as weapons of war, is creating a humanitarian catastrophe of historic proportions.”
Against this backdrop, faith-based humanitarian groups are calling for sustained international engagement. Dirk Hanekom, Sudan Country Director for Norwegian Church Aid, emphasized the need for long-term support.
“The war has inflicted such deep damage to the economy that even when it ends, Sudan will require sustained support to restore inestimable losses to public and private infrastructure, businesses, and livelihoods,” he said.
The faith groups echoed this, urging a “civilian-led peace” that includes women, youth, and trusted faith leaders. They warned that cutting aid to focus only on immediate emergencies damages community resilience and peace efforts.
Shahin Ashraf of Islamic Relief Worldwide highlighted the critical role of local groups, noting that solidarity kitchens in mosques and churches have saved countless lives. She urged international governments to show the same compassion. Similarly, Sr. Bridgita Mwawasi, representing the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, called for urgent action to ensure aid reaches women and girls suffering the war’s worst effects.
Kayode Akintola of CAFOD observed that while the world’s attention has been elsewhere, faith groups have been on the front lines. “Across Africa and in the UK, faith leaders and people of faith have followed this brutal war; raising funds to support humanitarian work and raising their voices for peace,” he said. “There is so much violence and suffering happening across the world right now, but at this time, we urge everyone to see the suffering in Sudan.”
Ultimately, Father Gbemboyo believes the resolution lies in political will that is currently lacking. He noted that third parties often benefit from the chaos, but insisted the focus must return to the people’s needs.
“The resolution to bring about real peace in Sudan is proving difficult due to a lack of political will to sit down and negotiate,” he told CWR.
He lamented that other global crises have overshadowed Sudan. “The wars in Ukraine and Iran have overshadowed the suffering Sudanese people and, as such, Sudan is not given priority… There is no intermediary body persuading the opposing parties in Sudan for peace.”
Yet, he remains hopeful that the international community will listen to those on the ground. “The voices of the humanitarian agencies… need to be listened to by International and Regional groups, like African Union, IGAD, etc.,” Father Gbemboyo concluded. “The humanitarian agencies present on the ground are witnesses to the plight of the people, and they need to be listened to and helped to care for the people.”
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Sudan seems to be the African nation most in need of humanitarian assistance. America was a significant contributor to that effort through the USAID program.
Since 2003, the program has saved over 25 million lives, prevented millions of HIV infections, and supported countries in HIV epidemic control.
Trump abruptly suspended all US aid last month to determine whether it was “serving US interests”, and moved to begin dismantling USAID.
The freezing of US humanitarian assistance has forced the closure of almost 80% of the emergency food kitchens set up to help people left destitute by Sudan’s civil war.
Pope Leo will spend 10 days in Africa and will visit four countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, with stops in 11 cities across those nations. Surprisingly, Sudan was not on Pope Leo’s itinerary. WHY?
No more “aid” for Sudan. It’s the Sudanese government’s responsibility to address and solve the nation’s problems. Cutting aid is the right call.
Just let the die? The right call? Oh, because Trump said so. Was he speaking ex cathedra?
Emotional reasoning is not an argument.
Emotion? Wanting to help dying people is emotional? More MAGA drek.
William doesn’t reason. At best, he emotes, usually with strawmen and red herrings.
These “aid” programs are routinely skimmed and misdirected by local officials, who even if they have the desire to direct it properly, don’t seem to be able to do so effectively or efficiently.
But there’s that leftist worship of government expenditure rearing its golden juvenile bovine head again.
“Emotion? Wanting to help dying people is emotional? More MAGA drek.”
More progressive drivel. If you feel convicted to help, then you are more than free to do so. It’s not the job of the US government to prop up a non-functioning government. That’s common sense.
Is there any left-wing golden calf you won’t worship?
USAID wqas nothing more than a money laundering scheme for political patronage and ideological colonization.
But of course in the thought process of a reliable vendor of left-wing nostrums, money is always the answer. It’s almost amusing how the left makes government a god and its expenditures a channel of benevolence.
There’s going to be a lot of people appending Matthew 7:22 with “didn’t we militate for more government money”.
So the mission of the church is to make the world a better place? Gee, and here I was thinking it was something else. Silly me.
It makes you wonder what these “people of faith” actually believe.
G. Poulin,
About “something else”…
“Earthly progress must be carefully distinguished from the growth of God’s kingdom. Nevertheless, to the extent that the former can contribute to the better ordering of human society, it is of vital concern to the kingdom of God [….] The Christian who neglects his temporal duties neglects his duties toward his neighbor and even God, and jeopardizes his eternal salvation” (Gaudium et Spes, nn. 39, 43).
About the eternal “something else,” prudence suggests timely reflection upon future talking points.
So you’re fine with letting people starve and food that might have fed them burned by the US government’s order? Perhaps you’re care to re-read the 25th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel? For those who want to help, the Sudan Relief Fund is a worthy charity.
“For those who want to help, the Sudan Relief Fund is a worthy charity.”
And there you go. If people feel convicted about the situation, they are free to exercise their own free choice to offer help. We are not responsible for the consequences of a government that cannot provide basic services and meet basic needs. Writing unlimited checks just sends the wrong message. If people are starving, it’s not our fault, after all.
But we are responsible for a government that cannot provide basic needs right here in the U.S. It is not unreasonable to send billions in foreign aid rather than bombs.
Define worthy and do so with direct reference to its 2024 (most recent) 990 available on the IRS’ “Select Check” website.
The root of the Sudanese murders, fighting, endless war, and persecution of the Christian South is…is….is…you guessed it: Islam
Wait, what??!! That’s the religion of peace. We should send them more money 🙄.
Christ is the Prince of Pease. His followers are called to be peacemakers and share from their needs, not just from their largesse.
Did you mean to say “Christ is the Prince of Peas”?
Two thirds of Susan’s population is at risk of starving right now. No private charity can meet that need. The insurgents, commanded by the man who led that infamous campaign of rape and murder in Darfur (ghastly even by African standards) is poised to take over the whole country.
USAID really was doing vital work with food and medical assistance in Africa, unrelated to its objectionable politicized activities elsewhere. Letting black Africans die is a matter of indifference to the Present Occupant of the White House. It shouldn’t be to Christians.
“USAID really was doing vital work with food and medical assistance in Africa, unrelated to its objectionable politicized activities elsewhere.”
As bad as “telescopic philanthropy” is, it’s worse when it’s naive.
These reports from the USAID typify the waste fraud and abuse in the program-apart from the political stuff.
Feb 27, 2025
President’s Malaria Initiative in Africa: USAID Did Not Implement Its Strategy to Prioritize High-Burden Countries
Audit Report
4-000-25-001-P
Feb 26, 2025
Emergency Food Assistance in Ethiopia: Gaps in USAID’s Award Administration, Monitoring, and Incident Reporting Hindered Its Ability to Detect Widespread Food Diversion
Evaluation
E-000-25-002-M
Sep 23, 2024
INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY: Zambian National Embezzled Funds From a US Government Grantee
Investigative Summary
Feb 23, 2024
INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY: Findings of sexual exploitation and abuse by a USAID grantee employee in Southern Africa
Investigative Summary
And with respect to Sudan:
Inspection of USAID/South Sudan’s ICASS Service Provision in Juba
Inspection
Report Number
E-668-23-002-M
Sep 28, 2023
Why We Did This Inspection
In Juba, South Sudan, USAID serves as an Alternate Service Provider of the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) system. ICASS allows the U.S. government to provide and share the cost of common administrative support services among its overseas posts.
USAID’s Mission in South Sudan (USAID/South Sudan) provides about half of the ICASS services in Juba while the State Department typically serves as the primary ICASS service provider at all other posts worldwide.
In 2021, Embassy Juba and USAID/South Sudan expressed concerns about how ICASS services were provided at post. These issues included questions about the division of roles between USAID and the State Department as well as management and human resource challenges. Both entities asked the USAID and State Department OIGs to conduct a joint inspection.
We conducted this inspection to determine whether USAID/South Sudan has met requirements of applicable laws and regulations for its role as an Alternate Service Provider.
What We Found
The mission lacked clear coordination and communication of duties for ICASS service provision. Instead, USAID and State Department personnel relied on personal relationships to determine who was responsible for their shared duties.
USAID/South Sudan encountered a broad range of management challenges at the strategic, operational, and functional levels. The mission also faced human resource challenges related to understaffing, ineffective transition and orientation processes, and training provided to Foreign Service Nationals.
Why It Matters
USAID/South Sudan will continue providing services for Embassy Juba until embassy functions transition from the existing location to a new embassy compound. Thus, the mission must ensure that its Executive Office receives sufficient support to provide these services.
We made 11 recommendations to improve USAID/South Sudan’s management of ICASS services in Juba, South Sudan.