CENTRAL DARFUR: CHRISTIAN LEADER AND THREE FAMILY MEMBERS DIE UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN GARSILLA

(23 August, 2022) African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) calls for urgent investigations into the deaths of Mr. Azrag Barnabas, a former Christian leader in Garsilla Church who died in November 2021 and his three children who died on 13 July 2022 under unclear and suspicious circumstances. The center further calls upon Sudanese authorities to protect all citizens, stop the harassment of Christian citizens and ensure the respect for religious rights and guarantee individual’s freedom of worship.

Mr. Azrag was originally from Abyi area and lived in Garsilla since the 1990s with his wife and children. He passed away at Garsilla hospital, West Darfur in November 2021 under unclear and suspicious circumstances. The postmortem report indicated poisoning as his cause death. ACJPS received reliable information indicating that the medical staff at Garsilla hospital tried their best to save his life but unfortunately, they were let down by the poor health system such as lack of medical supplies. The accuracy of the postmortem report is therefore questionable and there is need for legal investigation to establish the actual cause of death of Mr. Azrag. Another reliable source informed ACJPS that, most of the public hospitals located in remote areas and war zones are struggling as they are not facilitated by government and therefore cannot function to their best capacity. Following the unclear circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Azraq, the church has since closed as the members were worried about their safety.

Mr. Azrag became a Pastor in Garsilla church around 2015 and had been praying in the same church since it was founded in the 1990s by several South Sudanese from Abyi locality.

Although the death of Mr. Azrag was reported, ACJPS is not aware of any suspects arrested in relation to his death. Investigation into this death was halted after the 25^th October 2021 coup that crippled institutions such as police and the office of the attorney.

In a related incident, on 13 July 2022, three children of the Late Azrag died in house fire. Although the cause of the fire is still uncertain, the circumstances surrounding the incident point to the involvement of mobilized extremist groups.  The Children were aged 6, 10 and 11 years. Two died on spot while the third child was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to injuries.

ACJPS reiterates it’s call to Sudanese authorities to protect the rights of all citizens and respect the freedom of religion guaranteed by regional and international treaties ratified by the government of Sudan. The constitutional declaration of 2019 also guarantees the right of equality before the law regardless of religious beliefs. It further provides for freedom of religious belief and worship. 

Background

Christianity has been practiced in different states of Sudan for a long time. However, in 2009, Christian citizens started being targeted by both extremist groups and authorities as they were harassed, arrested and charged with Apostasy under the Sudanese Penal Code 1991 which criminalized conversion to Christianity. During the transitional government efforts to protect Christians were made as the crime of Apostasy was decriminalized but unfortunately the Christian citizens have continued to be targeted especially after the coup. In July 2022, four Christians were charged with apostacy in Zilingi city in Central Darfur.

For further information, contact Mossad Mohamed Ali at: mossaad.ali@acjps.org