Canadian officials were warned three weeks ago that Sudan was sliding towards a major civil conflict, raising questions about the Liberal government’s statements that the situation took the world by “surprise” amid concerns over the pace of evacuation efforts, multiple sources tell Global News.
While Canadian Armed Forces members and assets are already in the region, as of Wednesday they had yet to begin military evacuations for diplomatic personnel and Canadian nationals. The 180 Canadians that have been evacuated as of Wednesday have done so on aircraft operated by Canada’s allies.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said “the situation in Sudan happened very quickly” and when the violence started “it took the world by surprise.”
But high-level national security sources told Global News that Canada was receiving detailed and frequent updates through CAF liaison officers working with U.S. Africa Command for weeks.
The sources, who have direct knowledge of the evacuation planning but were not authorized to speak publicly, said the Canadian military had both contingency plans and the assets needed for an evacuation effort well in advance of the crisis.
The sources instead pointed to two “failures” to secure speedy evacuations for Canadians trapped by the conflict: a failure to make timely decisions to pre-position military assets, and a failure to exert political influence to secure landing strips that would’ve allowed military aircraft to land.
One senior source faulted a “slow decision-making process that needlessly endangered embassy staff.”
Global News reported Wednesday that Canadian military personnel, including special forces operators, were already on the ground in Sudan planning evacuation efforts, citing three sources. Two sources said the task force was operating out of Djibouti on Wednesday afternoon, and there are concerns about dangerous conditions in Sudan.
Defence Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday that some 200 CAF members were in the region and prepared to assist in evacuation efforts, and the government says a Global Affairs task force is operating out of Djibouti.
Anand told reporters in Ottawa that two C-130 Hercules aircraft are also “in the region” and are ready to begin airlifts whenever “conditions on the ground permit” – but would not offer a timeline. Anand said the planes arrived in the region “recently.”
“There are conditions that we are monitoring very closely. One of which is the space at the airport. Another is to ensure that Canadians are able to get to the airport in a safe and secure manner,” Anand said.
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Government officials, speaking at a technical briefing in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, said one military airlift planned for Wednesday was cancelled, but several flights are scheduled in the coming days.
More than 11 days into the crisis in Sudan, roughly 180 Canadians have been evacuated from the country out of 700 who have requested assistance, according to updated government figures.
Joly said that more than 1,800 Canadians in Sudan are registered with the federal government. As of Tuesday night, at least 1,700 had been contacted by the government.
Fighting broke out in Africa’s third largest country on April 15 between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and a paramilitary organization known as the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The fighting has cast a shadow over hopes that Sudan could transition to democracy after decades of dictatorship and civil war.
Since the outbreak of the crisis, western governments – including Canada – have scrambled to evacuate diplomatic staff and nationals hoping to flee the hostilities. An uneasy three-day ceasefire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia was reached Monday, but previous attempts to halt the fighting to allow civilians and foreign nationals to flee have failed.
No Canadian military evacuation flights had taken place as of Tuesday night, with Canadians escaping the country on airlifts co-ordinated by Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Canadian diplomatic staff have also been evacuated by U.S. personnel.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted the Canadian Armed Forces do have two ships in the region – HMCS Montreal and MV Asterix – but told reporters the situation is “extremely difficult” and said there were “limited” places to conduct airlifts to get Canadians out.
The evacuation of foreign nationals has stoked fears that the two sides will resume all-out conflict once the evacuations are complete, with many Sudanese attempting to flee during the uneasy truce. The Associated Press reported that bus stations in Khartoum were packed on Tuesday morning, while drivers jacked up prices to transport civilians to Port Sudan or to the border crossing with Egypt.
Sudan also holds one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, according to the United Nations, and years of violent conflict have displaced many within the country’s borders.
According to the latest UN estimates, at least 421 people have been killed and more than 3,700 injured since the fighting began. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned a “catastrophic conflagration” could cover the region if hostilities don’t cease, and has urged members of the Security Council to “exert maximum leverage” to pull the country “back from the abyss.”
In the House of Commons Tuesday night, both Joly and the Opposition Conservatives acknowledged the need to help the Sudanese people after the immediate crisis passes.
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, who pushed for the emergency debate, suggested authoritarian regimes like Russia are attempting to take advantage of the crisis – pointing to the presence of the Russia-backed Wagner mercenary group in the country.
“I think the great advantage we have as free democracies, when we are prepared to use it, is that we can always be on the side of the people. That’s what we should be focused on,” Genuis told the House of Commons.
“This is a truly all-hands-on-deck effort, and I encourage all members in this House to recognize the significant work being done,” Joly said, adding that her department was working with the Canadian Armed Forces, the immigration department and the Canada Border Services Agency to help both Canadians trapped in Sudan and Sudanese nationals trapped in Canada.
Joly said she was “very concerned” the conflict could lead to a larger humanitarian crisis in the region.
– with files from Global’s Sean Boynton and The Associated Press
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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