Since the outset of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, Canada has been working with its regional and international partners to address the deteriorating situation. Canada has repeatedly called on the warring parties to end hostilities, agree to a permanent ceasefire and to engage in mediation efforts. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Development both travelled to the region immediately following the outset of the crisis to meet with their counterparts and to discuss the situation on the ground.
To this end, Canada has maintained a high level of diplomatic engagement on the crisis, at different levels and through different fora. Canadian ministers regularly raise the conflict in Sudan in bilateral engagements with countries in the region, as well as in multilateral fora such as the United Nations and the G7.
Canada actively engages on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council, including through co-sponsoring the resolution in 2023 that created the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, which is mandated to document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the interest of pursuing possible measures for accountability and ending impunity. In October 2024, Canada co-sponsored the renewal of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
On April 12, 2024, Canada introduced new autonomous sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act in response to the ongoing conflict. Canada imposed sanctions on 2 individuals and 4 entities for directly or indirectly undermining peace, security, and stability in Sudan, as well as participating in human rights violations. The new autonomous regime also builds on multilateral sanctions related to Sudan, imposed by the UN Security Council in September 2004 and implemented in Canadian law under the United Nations Act, which include an arms embargo, among other prohibitions.
Canada firmly believes that the meaningful inclusion of civilian and civil society voices in mediation efforts is key to ensuring lasting peace. For this reason, Canada has increased its support to Sudanese civil society organizations, including women's rights organizations, to help bolster their capacity to engage in mediation efforts and to mitigate the impacts of the conflict. In August 2024, Jacqueline O'Neill, Canada's Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security, supported U.S.-led efforts in Geneva, Switzerland, to include Sudanese women's voices in ceasefire discussions.
Canada announced in November $2 million to ensure Sudanese civil society organizations, women human rights defenders and peacebuilders have the capacity to meaningfully engage in mediation efforts. Given the ongoing conflict and the impact that it is having on Sudanese civilians, Canada also announced $1.5 million in funding to reduce conflict related violence experienced by civilians by strengthening community capacity in crisis response, conflict mitigation and psycho-social support, particularly women and girls in Darfur.
In addition to the funding announced in November, Canada announced earlier this year $132.2 million in international assistance funding, including $100.7 million in humanitarian assistance funding and $31.5 million in development assistance funding, to address urgent needs in Sudan and its neighbouring countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
In alignment with humanitarian response plans, Canada's largely flexible humanitarian assistance funding allows our partners to address new needs arising from the conflict, in areas such as emergency food and nutrition assistance, health and medical services, shelter, protection (including prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence) and water, sanitation and hygiene.
Together with regional and international partners, Canada continues to advocate for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, in accordance with the obligations of all parties to the conflict under international humanitarian law.
Canada's approach to immigration is designed to support sustainable growth by balancing community needs, economic objectives, and humanitarian responsibilities. A key part of these responsibilities is Canada's long-standing commitment to protecting the world's most vulnerable, including people affected by the conflict in Sudan.
The Government of Canada acted quickly after violence erupted in Khartoum in April 2023, including by prioritizing applications from people in the region, and implementing a number of temporary immigration measures and a permanent, family reunification pathway to help people affected by the situation.
