Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: August 8, 2026
The Nuba Mountains region in Sudan has a rich history of ethnic and religious diversity and mutual respect.
Through the decades of dictatorship and war — even during the current conflict — the region has stood as an example of peaceful co-existence.
Recently, however, that peace is being threatened by ethnic tensions, attacks on community leaders, and attacks on places of worship.
On 23 July, members of the Otoro ethnic group killed at least 10 people in an attack on the town of Heban. They abducted at least 20 others, including children.
Among the hostages was Reverand Yakoub Ibrahim Tia — formerly a senior leader of the Sudanese Church of Christ. He is from the Shawaya ethnic group.
Six members of his family were also taken, including two sons (aged 17 and 20) and his 15-year-old nephew.
Church ministers from different ethnic groups in the Nuba Mountains came together to pray and appeal for their freedom. Thankfully, all the hostages were safely released on 28 July.
Yet not every story from Heben ended that way.
Reverend Adil Idris Jangoul was a leader from the Sudanese Episcopal Church in Heban.
On 23 July, he was arrested in his home by the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North (an armed group that has control over this region of the Nuba Mountains). They seized his money and arrested him.
Reverend Adil cooperated without resistance, but his body was later found on the side of the road, alongside six others. Our sources report that they had been executed extrajudicially.
Please stand in prayer with the communities affected by these heinous acts of violence.
- Pray for all those who are mourning their loved ones, that they would know the Lord’s comfort at this time.
- Call for the authorities to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Pray for peace to reign in the Nuba Mountains, and across Sudan.
At times like this, it can be hard to find the words to pray. Psalms of lament, like Psalm 10, can give us a helpful framework. They show that we can come to God with our unfiltered pain and confusion:
‘Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?’
And somehow find the strength to persevere — remembering the mighty One we are praying to:
‘The Lord is King for ever and ever…’
‘You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.’
Thank you for remembering the people of Sudan and holding them in prayer today.