At least eleven members of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church have been hospitalized after a violent attack during a worship service in Turalei Payam in Warrap State’s Twic County on Saturday.
According to Pastor William Wol Adewun Paduol, Director of Information and Communication for the Greater Bahr El Ghazal Field of the SDA Church, the group attacked the congregation during a worship service, beat worshipers, and set the church building on fire.
“A group of people were mobilized by a local chief, and they attacked members of a church operating under a tree,” Pastor Wol said. “The attackers claim the church disrupts traditional shrine practices and offends their gods.”
During the attack, the mob reportedly destroyed sound equipment, mobile phones, chairs, and even set members’ shoes on fire. In addition to the violence at the church, some of the attackers allegedly broke into members’ homes and looted livestock, including three goats.
Warrap State has experienced multiple cases of churches being attacked or burned by some groups of residents in recent months.
Just last Sunday, unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed an Adventist evangelist and injured a pastor as they returned from a wedding in Tonj North County.
In 2022, an Adventist church was burned down in Gogrial East, Warrap State, an incident believed to be motivated by religious hostility. This earlier event was linked to former Interior Minister and MP Salva Mathok Gengdit, who was seen condemning the church’s activities in viral social media footage before his death in March 2023.
As of reporting, Warrap State officials have not commented on the incident. Efforts to reach Warrap State Information Minister William Wol and Twic County Commissioner John Mabior for comment were futile as their known telephones went unanswered.
Pastor Wol urged local and national authorities to intervene, uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, and prosecute those responsible. He also called on human rights organizations and civil society to stand in defense of freedom of worship.
“We appeal to the government and all peace-loving citizens,” he said. “It is unfair for someone to worship freely in a shrine, then deny their neighbor the right to worship in a church.”
Ter Manyang Gatwech, Executive Director of the Juba-based Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), also condemned the recent attacks, including the fatal ambush on the evangelist. He stressed that targeting religious leaders threatens peacebuilding efforts in the country.