Toronto’s Sudanese community members express feeling abandoned by the Canadian government amidst the worsening violence in Sudan, despite a humanitarian ceasefire proposal accepted by Sudan’s paramilitary in collaboration with the United States and Arab powers. The city of El Fasher fell to rebel forces on Oct. 26 after an 18-month siege, leading to disturbing reports of extortion, rape, and mass killings of civilians.
Mamoun Hassan, a Sudanese Canadian filmmaker residing in the Greater Toronto Area, shared with CBC Toronto that his community perceives Canada’s response to the humanitarian crisis as inadequate, stating, “We feel really, really betrayed. We feel like we’ve been told a lie about this country: that Canada cares for us as a people. And it’s just become so evident that that’s not the case.”
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, identified by the United Nations as the world’s most significant humanitarian crisis, originated in April 2023 and primarily involves clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Following the RSF’s capture of El Fasher, reports emerged of widespread atrocities in the city, prompting tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians to flee the region.
Sudanese Canadians in Toronto, such as Iman Abbaro, expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing that the grief is longstanding and multifaceted. Abbaro criticized the Canadian government’s response, urging for a more robust commitment to Canada’s reputation as a supporter of refugees and immigrants, particularly by facilitating asylum-seeking Sudanese individuals’ entry into the country.
Although the Canadian government has implemented measures like allowing Sudanese nationals to extend their stay and offering family reunification programs for permanent residency, Hassan believes these actions fall short. He highlighted disparities in the treatment of Sudanese refugees compared to other groups and criticized the government’s reliance on immigration level adjustments as a barrier to timely assistance.
The York University Sudanese Student Association issued a statement calling for coordinated humanitarian aid, emphasizing the urgent need for peace, accountability, and substantial intervention from the global community, including the Canadian government, to aid those affected by the crisis.
In response to queries from CBC Toronto, Jeffrey MacDonald, a communications advisor for IRCC, expressed Canada’s deep concern for the Sudan conflict and affirmed tailored responses to address the unique needs of affected individuals. The government increased family sponsorship application processing in February but is currently not accepting new applications under the family-based permanent residence pathway for Sudan conflict victims.
Ismail Kabar, a Toronto resident from Darfur, participated in a peaceful protest to raise awareness and demand a stronger international humanitarian response. He highlighted the plight of his cousin in El Fasher trapped during the siege and urged Canadians to support humanitarian efforts to assist those impacted by the conflict in Sudan.
Overall, the Sudanese diaspora in Toronto continues to advocate for increased support and action to alleviate the crisis, emphasizing the necessity for solidarity and assistance from the Canadian government and the broader global community.