Sudanese Activists in Montreal Raise Awareness About War in Sudan

On Thursday May 9, The Sudan Solidarity Collective held an event, in downtown Montreal, to raise awareness about the war in Sudan.

The event comprised a teach-in, a poetry performance and a poster-making workshop.

In solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, activists and Montrealers gathered at the Gaza Solidarity encampment on McGill University's campus, in downtown Montreal to denounce the current militarized state violence happening in Sudan.

The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 is currently known as the largest mass displacement crisis in the world. Approximately 10.7 million people have been displaced, and over 15,000 people have died.

The Sudanese Armed Forces, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by commander Mohamed Hamdan, have been warring for power. The violence between the two parties has, however, affected Sudanese civilians, leading to many civilians being killed, fleeing the country, and being forcibly displaced. 

The conflict first reached a peak in Khartoum, last year, before welling over in other regions such as Darfur.

Sudan has been the object of mass destruction. Sudanese civilians in the region do not have access to water, food, electricity and proper medical care. 18 million people in Sudan are facing extreme hunger, heightening the risks of the country facing the world's worst hunger crisis. 

The speakers and performers also drew attention to the lack of education and advocacy found in mainstream media. Since April 2023, coverage on the issue died down rapidly when diplomats and foreigners residing in Sudan were evacuated within the first two months of the war. The situation has since gotten worse for Sudanese civilians, but the coverage of the issue still remains minimal.

One of the speakers and members of the Sudan Solidarity Collective, Duha Elmardi, also emphasized that while the war 'officially' broke out in 2023, previous political regimes have had important consequences on the current humanitarian crisis.