Bishop of El-Obeid Church Survives Assault
Moatinoon
Bishop Yunan Tomb Terelli Koko Andali, the Catholic Bishop of the El-Obeid Diocese in North Kordofan State, sustained serious injuries at the hands of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) personnel over the weekend (November 30 - December 2). This occurred shortly after he was harassed and robbed by soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces, according to sources.
"ACI Africa" reported that armed RSF militants left Bishop Tomb, who was accompanied by a deacon named Joseph, after brutally beating him as they returned from Renk town in South Sudan near the Sudanese border. Deacon Joseph was also injured.
Bishop Tomb wrote to Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala, the Catholic Bishop of the Tombura-Yambio Diocese in South Sudan, stating:
“I was struck heavily multiple times on the neck, forehead, face, and both sides of my head,” adding that he could not move his jaw. He continued, “I cannot bite food. With Deacon Joseph, we miraculously survived death when one of their leaders said: ‘That’s enough.’”
Bishop Tomb also reported that Sudanese Armed Forces soldiers had taken U.S. dollars from him, claiming he was carrying prohibited foreign currency. The "Catholic Radio Network" reported that Bishop Matthew Remijo Adam of the Wau Catholic Diocese stated Sudanese Armed Forces soldiers had beaten and robbed Tomb as well.
Remijo added that RSF militants had struck Tomb harshly on his head and neck and had intended to execute him before one of them convinced the others to release him.
Tomb was returning to Sudan after participating in an Eucharistic conference and celebrations marking 50 years of the Catholic Churchs presence in Sudan and South Sudan.
Remijo appealed to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit to pressure the Sudanese government to ensure Tomb’s safety or facilitate his relocation from the diocese if necessary.
Bishop Tomb, who has been advocating for peace in Sudan, narrowly escaped death on April 20, 2023, when rockets hit Mary Queen of Africa Cathedral and the priests’ residence where he was praying with other clergy. He has served in the El-Obeid Diocese for over 30 years.
Since the conflict began, Christian sites have been increasingly targeted. Open Doors ranked Sudan eighth on its 2024 list of countries where Christianity faces extreme challenges.
Following the fall of Omar al-Bashirs regime in 2019, Sudan made progress in religious freedoms. However, the military coup on October 25, 2021, raised fears of a return to state-sponsored persecution.
Christians in Sudan are estimated to number around 2 million, comprising 4.5% of the total population of over 43 million.
