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On Monday, the Canadian government announced special procedures to make it easier for Sudanese in its territory to extend their residency, which will allow them to continue studying, working, or visiting their families in the country without any expenses. This comes in light of the bloody conflict that the conflict has been witnessing since mid-April.
The Canadian government has announced that it intends to put in place new immigration procedures to support Sudanese temporary residency holders who are currently in Canada and may not be able to return to Sudan because of the rapidly deteriorating situation there.
Fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15, killing hundreds, halting work in hospitals and interrupting other services, and turning residential neighborhoods into war zones.
A statement by the Canadian government on Monday included that once the new measures announced by Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser enter into force, Sudanese citizens will be able to request an extension of their residency in Canada, which will allow them to continue studying, working or visiting their families in the country without any expenses.
The government added that it will give priority to reviewing already completed permanent and temporary residence applications on the immigration system for those still in Sudan, in order to facilitate procedures for them.
This includes visit visa applications for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, she added.
Canada said it would also exempt Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are in Sudan and wish to leave Sudan from fees for a passport and a permanent resident travel document.
The United States said on Monday that the two sides of the conflict in Sudan had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, at a time when Western, Arab and Asian countries were racing to evacuate their nationals.
For its part, Canada said on Sunday that it had temporarily suspended work at its embassy in Sudan, and that Canadian diplomats would work temporarily from a safe location outside the country.
France 24/Reuters
