Catholic priest Fr. Youhanna Al-Amin killed in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains after reporting stolen medical aid amid escalating violence.
Newsroom (22/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Catholic Church in Sudan is grieving the death of Fr. Youhanna Al-Amin, a parish priest who chose to stand by his community amid intensifying violence in the Nuba Mountains—only to lose his life in circumstances linked to his defense of humanitarian aid.
Fr. Youhanna, the Parish Priest of St. Vincent’s Kauda Parish in the Diocese of El Obeid, was killed on Friday, June 19, alongside a parish watchman and another individual. Their deaths occurred in a region long plagued by armed conflict and instability, where violence has once again surged in recent weeks.
According to local sources cited by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the killing appears to be connected to escalating tribal tensions and clashes among armed factions operating across the Nuba Mountains.
A Killing Tied to Stolen Aid
Reports indicate that Fr. Youhanna’s death may have been an act of retaliation. The priest had reportedly spoken out after medicines intended for vulnerable local populations were stolen—supplies the Church had been safeguarding for distribution.
In a region where access to healthcare is severely limited, such supplies represent a vital lifeline. The Church’s role often extends beyond spiritual support, providing essential services such as medical care and assistance to impoverished families.
Kauda, where Fr. Youhanna was based, functions as the main center of areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), further complicating the security situation.
Choosing to Stay Amid Danger
As insecurity worsened in recent months, some religious personnel were forced to evacuate the region. Fr. Youhanna, however, made the deliberate decision to remain.
Those who knew him describe a priest deeply committed to his mission, refusing to abandon his congregation despite mounting risks. His choice to stay reflected both his pastoral dedication and his understanding of the community’s reliance on the Church’s presence.
His ministry spanned nearly three decades, marking him as a central figure in the Diocese of El Obeid. He served St. Peter’s Babnusa Parish from 1997 to 2021, a journey that began when he arrived as a seminarian and progressed through roles as a deacon, priest, and eventually parish priest.
“He was a friend of the youth and the children, and he loved his work until the very end,” the parish said in a tribute following his death.
Violence Escalates Across the Region
Fr. Youhanna’s killing comes amid a broader surge in violence throughout the Nuba Mountains. Dr. Tom Catena, a U.S.-born missionary physician and medical director at the Mother of Mercy Hospital, described the current situation as increasingly dire.
“There’s been very severe intertribal fighting for the past six weeks,” he said, noting that the identities of the perpetrators remain unclear.
Dr. Catena, who has spent years serving in the region, emphasized the gravity of the crisis, describing conditions as “pretty dark times” for the local population. The hospital in Gidel, located roughly 10 kilometers from where the shooting occurred, held a Mass in Fr. Youhanna’s memory as they awaited the return of his body.
A Pattern of Violence Targeting the Church
The killing is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern affecting the Catholic Church in Sudan.
In June 2025, another priest from the Diocese of El Obeid, Fr. Luka Jomo, was killed by a stray bullet during an attack on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State. Months earlier, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali was seriously injured in an attack by armed men while returning to his episcopal residence.
Taken together, these incidents highlight the increasing risks faced by clergy and humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones across Sudan.
Calls for Prayer and Clarity
As the Diocese of El Obeid seeks answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the latest attack, the Church has called for prayer for Fr. Youhanna and the two others who were killed with him.
ACN and local parishes continue to urge the international community not to overlook the plight of civilians in the Nuba Mountains, where conflict, poverty, and limited infrastructure exacerbate an already fragile humanitarian situation.
For those who knew him, Fr. Youhanna’s death represents not only a tragic loss, but also a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who choose to serve in some of the world’s most volatile regions—often at great personal risk, and sometimes at the cost of their lives.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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