A shift in Canada-Africa Relations Or Same Old Posturing?

Sudan: A Stark Contrast in Humanitarianism

The devastating conflict in Sudan has resulted in the displacement of over 3 million people, with more than 1million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations. Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has descended into chaos as long-standing tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into open conflict in the capital city, Khartoum, and other parts of the country.

The overwhelming majority of Sudanese refugees ( 239,000) sought safety in neighboring Chad, as confirmed by the United Nations. With the displaced primarily originated from Darfur and Khartoum, yet a considerable number found refuge in other nations as well. By July, alarming figures revealed 115,000 refugees in South Sudan, 210,000 in Egypt, over 45,600 in Ethiopia, and approximately 15,000 in the Central African Republic. Disturbingly, numerous individuals found themselves stranded or displaced throughout Sudan due to escalating violence, resulting in a humanitarian crisis that affected a staggering 25 million people—equivalent to more than half of Sudan's population—across the entire country.

The dire situation in Sudan calls for urgent international attention and intervention to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to provide immediate assistance to the displaced population. Efforts are needed to address the root causes of the conflict and work towards a sustainable peace, enabling Sudan to rebuild and resume its path towards democratic governance and stability.

The Canadian Government is working closely with the international community and regional partners to support a peaceful resolution of the conflict. And calls for the resumption of dialogue towards the formation of a civilian-led transitional government. And urges both parties to engage in mediation efforts supported by regional partners that promote dialogue and peace.

Canada is providing international assistance "in Sudan", including humanitarian assistance to meet the lifesaving needs of crisis-affected populations. This includes funding for emergency food and nutrition assistance, clean water, hygiene, sanitation, health and protection services. The Canadian government continues to work with its "humanitarian partners" to support their efforts to address the needs of vulnerable people affected by violence and insecurity across the country, as the context allows.

In contrast, over the past few months, Canadians have witnessed a remarkable display of compassion and efficiency in response to the crisis unfolding in Ukraine. Despite the challenges posed by our limited human resources capacity within the Canadian immigration system, we swiftly established a temporary immigration program to assist individuals and families fleeing the devastation caused by Russia's invasion. In a matter of weeks, we processed over six hundred thousand temporary visa applications from Ukraine and welcomed more than one hundred fifty thousand Ukrainian refugees into our country.

What's even more praiseworthy is that our government have allocated significant financial resources to ensure income support for these new arrivals, amounting to a staggering $420 million. Additionally, provinces like Ontario have also stepped up, investing over $30 million in emergency income support for?Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUEAT) visa holders, while municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area have generously covered the expenses of emergency hotel stays for Ukrainians who had no housing options.

The stark contrast in our government's response to similar situations is alarming, necessitating immediate attention and action. It is increasingly challenging to ignore the glaring disparity between how the situation in Sudan (as well as Yemen, Palestine, and Eritrea) is being handled compared to the crisis in Ukraine. The distinction is evident, with Africa being the location for one and Europe for the other. Additionally, it is worth noting that the individuals affected by these conflicts are primarily Africans rather than Europeans.

This is a profound and pervasive pattern, deeply rooted in colonialism. The haunting legacy persists to this day, entwined within the very fabric of our political and economic systems. Its influence extends beyond mere structures; it permeates our cultural milieu and has become ingrained in the DNA of our national media, and it’s presence manifests in our national immigration policies, taints employment practices, and lurks within the discriminatory practices of our border customs, which disproportionately targets Africans for additional scrutiny. This pattern further reveals itself through the irrational fear that society holds towards Africa and everything associated with it.

It falls upon all Canadians to squarely face and condemn any form of discrimination, whether overt or subtle, intentional or unintentional. It is crucial to recognize that every human life merits the same level of compassion, irrespective of their nationality, race, or place of origin. By drawing attention to these disparities, we highlight the systemic biases that may pervade our society and strive towards building a more just, equitable, and inclusive future.

Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy: Building A Fragmented Relationship

Hon. Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development was mandated by the Prime Minister to "formulate" the Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy (CA-ECS).

The CA-ECS aims to foster economic collaboration between Canada and Africa through initiatives such as supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area, facilitating infrastructure investments, promoting research and innovation partnerships, and diversifying trade and investment. The CA-ECS emphasizes inclusivity, sustainability, and a rules-based international trading system. Overall, the strategy aims to contribute to the economic, social, and environmental priorities of both Canada and Africa. On May 20th, 2023, the government initiated a national consultation to gather input from the Canadian public and interested stakeholders on the CA-ECS initiative. The objective of this consultation is to solicit views and perspectives that will aid in defining priorities for the development of the Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy (CA-ECS).

The CA-ECS initiative comes at the heels of the Trudeau government's much criticized downgrading of the long-awaited national Canada-Africa Strategy, which had been eagerly anticipated after African Union's Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat visited Ottawa in late 2022. The downgrading of this strategy drew considerable backlash from stakeholders due to its perceived inadequacy and missed opportunity for strengthening Canada's ties with Africa. However, amidst this disappointment, Minister Ng's CA-ECS initiative emerges as a promising alternative, despite not addressing geopolitical relations between Canada and the emerging continent.

Canadian private and public stakeholders had high hopes for a strong and unwavering commitment to Africa in line with the 2023 released Indo-Pacific strategy that was backed by a 2.5 billion dollar investment. Although Canada has made significant strides towards strengthening relations with the African continent, unfortunately, it appears that Canada has once again conveyed its perspective that Africa is primarily viewed as an economic opportunity and a humanitarian concern, rather than as a region deserving of significant diplomatic attention. This reaffirmation of the status quo suggests that diplomatic relations between Canada and African states are unlikely to undergo substantial changes or advancements at this time.

Expanding and strengthening partnerships, trade, and geopolitical relations with the African continent offers immense potential for Canadian businesses and organizations. Currently, Canada's approach to developing a comprehensive strategy appears fragmented. However, the Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy, is a step forward towards significant and meaningful engagement with Africa.

Africa represents a trillion-dollar economic opportunity for Canada. In order to foster a mutually beneficial relationship based on shared interests and respect, it is imperative that Canada adopts a comprehensive strategy. This strategy will help progress Canada's partnership with the continent, enabling both parties to operate as equal partners while leaving behind colonial frameworks. By embracing this transformative approach, Canada can unlock the vast potential of the African continent while building a foundation for a long-lasting and mutually prosperous alliance.

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From your perspective as a reader, what should Canadians convey to their leadership if we are to pave a way to closer Canada-Africa relations?