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Sudan: Rapid Support Forces Occupy Two Cathedrals in Khartoum


Khartoum — The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have occupied the Episcopal All Saints Cathedral and the Coptic Virgin Mary Cathedral in Khartoum.

Paramilitaries of the RSF stormed the All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum II yesterday morning and turned it into a military base.

“The main gate and the doors to the offices were opened by force,” Rev Ezekiel Kondo, archbishop of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Sudan and bishop of Khartoum reported on his Facebook page following the raid.

“They threatened the guard with a gun and stole the vehicle of the diocese. Nobody knows what happened to the rest of church property,” he stated.

“The church leadership and the entire Christian episcopal community condemn this disrespectful act,” the archbishop added. “We demand the immediate exit and withdrawal of these forces from the cathedral’s compound. Such acts must stop and should never happen again to any place of worship.”

In central Khartoum, RSF soldiers occupied the Virgin Mary Coptic Cathedral more than a week ago. The compound contains a school and a number of residences for the cleric.

“For exactly one week, the RSF have been entering the church as they please,” according to an eyewitness whose report was posted on social media on Monday.

“Each day, for the last week, the RSF have used the church as a place to access water, toilets, and to charge their telephones,” the source said.