Abraham Yac Deng of Ayen (Sudan)

3 June

Abraham Yac Deng, deacon and martyr, shot to death by armed forces of the Islamic National Front in the village of Ayen in southern Sudan, on 3 June 1998.

As reported by Christian Solidarity International-Suisse, between 1-10 June 1998, the armed forces of the Islamic National Front launched attacks on the majority Christian population of the district of Twic, north of Bahr El-Ghazal, Sudan. During these attacks, on 3 June in the village of Ayen, the Islamic militia killed the deacon of the Episcopal church, Abraham Yac Deng, and took away as slaves Elizabeth Ading Deng and Abuk Goch, two members of the community. Two of the children of Abuk Goch were among the 25 members of the community who were abducted as slaves. The militia sacked the Episcopal church of Ayen, and the pastor and another deacon narrowly escaped death. Other attacks, with summary executions, destruction of churches, and the abduction of women and children as slaves took place in the villages of Turalei and Maper.