Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
  Children attend Mass in late April in Lugi, a village in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. (CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey) 

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- As war continues in South Sudan, a neighboring diocese in Sudan is housing more than 200,000 South Sudanese refugees, its bishop said.

Bishop Yunan Andali of El Obeid, Sudan, said 200,000 is the number registered—many have not registered. More than half of the registered refugees are Catholics, which presents a pastoral challenge for church leaders, who are offering humanitarian as well as spiritual assistance.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011. However, over the past several years, a civil war has escalated to what the U.N. Refugee Agency calls a "full-blown humanitarian emergency."

"The total number of South Sudanese refugees has now passed 2 million; it is the largest refugee crisis in Africa, and the third-largest in the world," said the website of the UNHCR. It notes that 65 percent of South Sudanese refugees are under the age of 18.

Bishop Andali said some in Uganda are not receiving religious services.

Uganda is hosting more than 1 million South Sudanese refugees. Bishop Andali said some in Uganda are not receiving religious services.

The El Obeid Diocese is one of the two dioceses that remained Sudan after the split with South Sudan. El Obeid serves much of Darfur and the Nuba Mountain regions.

"Most local Christians live in the Nuba Mountains," the bishop said of his diocese. "The greatest difficulty we encounter with this large group of the faithful is to ensure that they acquire religious education in state schools, because the subject is compulsory in schools run by the state."

He said his country has no religious freedom -- it is 97 percent Muslim -- but most people tolerate other religions.

"We can carry out our activities within our old churches, but not outside. State regulations prohibit construction of new churches and transfer of land ownership to the church. Thanks to the help of the universal church, we have purchased private houses to carry out some of our pastoral activities. In this way we can reach our faithful in their homes and pray with them even in areas where there are no church buildings," Bishop Andali said.

More: Africa
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

Canon law does not give much specific direction about who can make decisions for the church during the interregnum.
Colleen DulleApril 29, 2025
How “unity” and “clarity” are becoming buzzwords for reversing Pope Francis’ style of governance: a Conclave Podcast from America’s team in Rome
Inside the VaticanApril 29, 2025
“He has given a great witness of humility, of closeness to the people, of living out the Gospel values. He has left a great example for us to follow,” a priest from Honduras told America.
J.D. Long GarcíaApril 29, 2025
In an April 29 statement, the Vatican said “the oath of the officials and attendants of the conclave will take place” May 5 in the Pauline Chapel, not far from the Sistine Chapel where the cardinals will vote for the next pope.