Discover
The identity of the nation
Sudan is a country of deep contrasts: land of the ancient Nubian kingdoms, cut by the meeting of the Blue Nile and the White Nile in Khartoum, and today marked by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. For centuries it was a bridge between sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab world, and that position shaped a hospitable people of deep faith and a strong sense of family honor, but also a territory of ancient ethnic and religious tensions.
The Sunni Islamic faith, in its Sufi expression (a mystical and devotional current within Islam), permeates practically all of public and private life. The Christian church has existed in this land for almost two thousand years, tracing back to the Christian Nubian kingdoms that flourished between the sixth and fifteenth centuries, but it was practically erased by progressive Islamization and today survives as a small minority, made up mostly of families who migrated from the south before the separation of South Sudan in 2011.
Since April 2023, the country has been living through a civil war between the Army and a rival paramilitary group, considered by the UN to be the world’s largest forced displacement crisis. Millions of Sudanese have been driven from their homes, entire cities have been left without basic services, and famine has spread across regions such as Darfur. In this scenario of extreme suffering, the Sudanese church, small and under pressure, continues to be a sign of hope for neighbors of every background.
For anyone considering serving among the Sudanese, patience, humility and a willingness to learn before speaking are essential. The people carry deep scars from decades of conflict, but also a dignity and a capacity for welcome that surprise outsiders. There are dozens of peoples still without any access to the gospel in their own language, especially in the regions of Darfur, Kordofan and eastern Sudan, among the Beja.
Sudan calls for persevering prayer: for peace between the warring factions, for the protection of the few believers who suffer pressure from every side, and for paths to open so that entire peoples, still isolated from the gospel today, may finally hear the message of Christ in their own language and culture.
- The region of present-day Sudan was home to the ancient kingdom of Kush and later to the Christian Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia.
- 7th-15th century Progressive Islamization of the territory following the Arab expansion; the Christian Nubian kingdoms resist until they are finally absorbed.
- 1821 Conquest by Egypt, which annexes the Sudanese territory to its domain.
- 1881 Mahdist revolt: a local religious leader proclaims himself the Mahdi and founds an independent Islamic state.
- 1899 Start of the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, under joint administration of the United Kingdom and Egypt.
- 1956 Independence of Sudan, on January 1, as a sovereign republic.
- 1955-1972 First Sudanese civil war, between the Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and traditional-religion south.
- 1983-2005 Second Sudanese civil war, one of the longest and deadliest in recent African history.
- 2003 Start of the conflict in Darfur, with mass violence against non-Arab populations in the region.
- 2011 Separation of South Sudan, which becomes an independent country after a referendum.
- 2019 Fall of the long-standing government after popular protests; start of a civilian-military transition.
- Today Civil war since April 2023 between the Army and a rival paramilitary group, with mass displacement and famine in several regions.
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Arabicofficial, majority language, spoken as a first or second language by most of the population
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Englishsecond official language, used in higher education and commerce
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Nubian and Beja languagesspoken by peoples of the north and east, many still without a complete Bible translation
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Fur, Zaghawa and other Darfur languagesspoken by dozens of ethnic groups in the west of the country
Sudan is the third largest country in Africa, dominated by the Sahara Desert in the north and greener savannas in the south. The Nile River crosses the country from end to end, and it is precisely in Khartoum that the Blue Nile, coming from Ethiopia, meets the White Nile, coming from the Great Lakes region, forming the final course of the world's longest river. Sudanese life has always revolved around these waters, which sustain agriculture amid a largely arid territory.
Major cities
- KhartoumFederal capital, at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers
- OmdurmanCountry's largest city, across the Nile from Khartoum, historic and cultural center
- Port SudanCountry's main port on the Red Sea, important for foreign trade
- NyalaLargest city in the Darfur region, in the west of the country
Climate and temperature
Ful medames
Fava beans slow cooked and seasoned with olive oil and lemon, considered Sudan's national dish.
Kisra
Thin, lightly fermented bread made from sorghum flour, served alongside almost every Sudanese meal.
Asida
Wheat flour dough cooked until it forms a soft ball, served with a meat and tomato sauce, common at festivals and celebrations.
Ginger coffee
Strong coffee spiced with ginger and cloves, served in small cups as a sign of hospitality.
Mullah
Stew of meat, okra or vegetables in a thick sauce, served over kisra or with rice.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Sacred hospitality
Welcoming a visitor, even a stranger, is a matter of honor: coffee, tea and food are offered with an open heart.
Authority of elders
Family and community decisions go through the elders; respecting them is essential to being well received.
Popular Sufism
Sudanese Islam has strong Sufi influence (a mystical current), with religious brotherhoods that shape social life and even politics.
Little-recognized ethnic diversity
Despite the discourse of a unified Arab identity, the country is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages, many historically marginalized.
Scars of war
Decades of conflict have left marks on nearly every Sudanese family; discussing this requires sensitivity and listening.
Music and oral poetry
Songs, proverbs and poetry play a central role in passing on values and telling the story of the people.
- Photographing people or military installations without permission In a country under heavy security control and at war, this can cause serious trouble.
- Discussing politics or the current conflict uninvited The subject is painful and dangerous; let Sudanese bring it up themselves, if they wish.
- Speaking ill of Islam or treating others' faith with disdain This causes immediate closure; respect for another's faith opens doors to dialogue.
- Using the left hand to eat or hand over objects Considered impure in many Arab and African Islamic contexts.
- Dressing immodestly in public Modest clothing that covers arms and legs is expected of both men and women.
- Treating the people's suffering with pity or spectacle Dignity and long-term partnership are worth far more than passing emotion.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The conflict between rival factions has fueled hatred, revenge and mass destruction for years.
Historic prejudice between Arab and non-Arab African groups fragments the country and fuels atrocities.
Practices of sorcery and amulets persist beneath official Islamic religiosity.
Social and legal pressure for religious conformity stifles freedom of conscience.
Decades of mismanagement and state capture by military interests deepen the people's poverty.
The war has driven millions from their homes, destroying the food security of entire families.
Entire groups in Darfur, Kordofan and the east remain without any Christian witness in their language.
Entire generations have grown up amid war, with no space to process the pain they have lived through.
Closed family structures limit the voice and freedom of women and young people.
The narrative of a single national identity erases and oppresses non-Arab African peoples.
Being a Christian in Sudan today means living under constant pressure, worsened by the civil war that has gripped the country since 2023. Both warring factions have, each in their own way, sought to reinforce their Islamic credentials, and this has put Christians in the crosshairs of both sides. Churches have been damaged or destroyed, and entire Christian communities have been forced to flee along with the rest of the displaced population.
Those who convert to Christianity from a Muslim family face the greatest risk: rejection by their own family, pressure to return to Islam and, in many cases, physical violence. The absence of stable central authority across much of the territory creates a vacuum where armed militias act with impunity, making legal protection for religious minorities practically nonexistent.
Even before the current war, laws based on a rigid interpretation of Islam already restricted religious freedom, making it difficult to build churches and convert publicly. The Christian community, small and concentrated mostly among families who came from the south of the country before 2011, persists as a sign of faith amid one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Sudan is a mosaic of nearly 200 ethnic groups, and the overwhelming majority of them still have no established church in their midst. Arab peoples of the center and north, Nubian groups, the Beja in the east, and dozens of ethnicities in Darfur and Kordofan remain, for the most part, without any meaningful Christian witness in their own language and culture.
- 50.1M Unreached 94,9%
- 168 Unreached 84,8%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Bederia
Kadaru Frontier
Shwai
Shifir Frontier
Mimi, Amdang Frontier
Debri, Wei Frontier
Lahawin Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
prices rise quickly because of the war and inflation
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn basic Arabic: few people outside Khartoum speak fluent English.
- Exercise extreme caution regarding the security situation: the country is in active war in several regions.
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially for women.
- Bring cash: the banking system has been weakened by the crisis.
- Respect Muslim prayer times, which pause much of public life.
- Always drink treated or bottled water to avoid illness.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.