Canada's Secretary of State for International Development, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, joins Afropolitan Dialogues fresh from the third International Sudan Conference in Berlin, where Canada pledged more than $120 million in humanitarian and development funding. In this conversation, he breaks down the funding, addresses the declining trend in global donor pledges, speaks to the anti-Black dimension of the atrocities in Darfur, and discusses Canada's support for the Sudanese diaspora community here in Canada.
Sudan is living through what the United Nations has called the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet right now. Fourteen million people have been displaced. More than 400,000 are dead by some estimates. Famine is spreading across a country where food is being deliberately used as a weapon of war. And in Darfur, a genocide — recognized formally by the United States government and confirmed by a UN fact-finding mission — is being carried out against Black African communities for the second time in twenty years, by the same forces, using the same tactics, against the same people.
This conversation was recorded on Friday, April 17, 2026, two days after the third International Sudan Conference in Berlin, where Canada announced more than $120 million in new humanitarian and development funding for Sudan and surrounding regions. Our guest, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, flew directly from Berlin to join us. He is Canada's Secretary of State for International Development, appointed in May 2025 by Prime Minister Mark Carney. He represents the riding of Surrey Centre, British Columbia, and has described his approach to this role as rooted in the Sikh principle of seva — service — instilled by his parents and community.
The conversation covers how Canada's funding is being allocated, why the total pledged at each successive Sudan donor conference has declined, the anti-Black and racially motivated character of the atrocities in Darfur, Canada's support for the Sudanese diaspora in Canada, and what a realistic path forward might look like for a country that is, in effect, being torn in two.
Conversation highlights
- Minister Sarai describes the Berlin conference as one of the most significant gatherings he has attended, drawing together like-minded nations to address what he calls one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our lifetime.
- Canada's $120 million commitment is broken down across immediate humanitarian relief for Sudan and neighbouring countries, education support for 60,000 children, gender-based violence programming through the UNFPA, and peace and stabilization work.
- On the declining trend in global donor pledges since the Paris conference in 2024, the minister attributes the gap partly to economic pressures and U.S. foreign aid cuts, while pointing to Canada as a country that has consistently increased its commitment year over year.
- When asked about the anti-Black and racially motivated dimension of the atrocities — a dimension rarely named in mainstream Western media — the minister acknowledges Canada's role as what he describes as a "resident expert" in combating racial discrimination, referencing lessons drawn from Rwanda.
- On support for the Sudanese diaspora in Canada, the minister confirms that the government has waived biometric and application fees to help Sudanese-Canadians reunite with family members still in the conflict zone, despite significant logistical challenges.
- Regarding proxy actors and external influence on the conflict, the minister confirms that Prime Minister Carney and the Foreign Affairs Minister have raised these issues directly with Gulf states, and that pressure continues through multilateral channels.
Topics covered
- The scale of the Sudan humanitarian crisis and what the Berlin conference revealed about conditions on the ground
- Canada's $120 million funding breakdown: humanitarian relief, children's education, gender-based violence response, and peace and stabilization
- The declining trend in international donor pledges across three consecutive Sudan conferences (Paris, London, Berlin)
- The Sudanese government's criticism of the Berlin conference and the conference's value despite the absence of the warring parties
- The anti-Black and racially motivated character of the atrocities in Darfur, and whether Canada's response specifically addresses this dimension
- Support for the Sudanese diaspora in Canada, including family reunification and fee waivers
- How to keep Sudan visible in an international media landscape crowded with other conflicts
- Canada's diplomatic engagement with Gulf states and proxy actors fuelling the conflict
- The near, medium, and long-term outlook for the crisis and Canada's sustained commitment
Selected quotes
On the scale of the crisis
"This is one of, if not the greatest catastrophe of our lifetime, a humanitarian disaster. Thirteen million students are without school. It's heading into its fourth year. Thousands and thousands have died, and the horrific violence specifically against young women and girls is unimaginable." — Randeep Sarai [00:04:24]
On Canada's funding commitment
"We had given $107 million last year. We committed $120 million this year. So Canada stands proud, particularly to help the people and the victims in Sudan." — Randeep Sarai [00:09:09]
"The one thing I particularly heard is that when Canada pledges, they actually fulfill it, where many countries sometimes pledge and then change their mind. So I was very proud to represent Canada in that regard." — Randeep Sarai [00:10:21]
On what NGOs reported from the ground
"What I heard from many of the NGOs on the ground: they said all you see is women and girls. The men are either all in the battle themselves, killed, or incarcerated." — Randeep Sarai [00:11:19]
On anti-Black racism and the racial dimension of the conflict
"Canada has been a champion in eliminating racial discrimination, whether it's domestically through strategy and a commitment to end it at all costs, but also internationally. We've seen in Rwanda and learned lessons from there." — Randeep Sarai [00:12:45]
"I think we've learned a lot from our past that we can use those tools in helping others deal with theirs." — Randeep Sarai [00:14:12]
On keeping Sudan visible
"Just what you're doing. You need to talk about it. You need to share it. You need to raise it with your members of parliament and government officials. NGOs need to do it." — Randeep Sarai [00:16:55]
"My message to everyone is: keep the pressure on, stay involved, find out what can help, and also support the smaller and local NGOs that might be doing work in the crisis regions." — Randeep Sarai [00:17:37]
On the abandoned crisis
"The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan recently said not to call this a forgotten crisis, but an abandoned crisis. There's a difference." — Meres J. Weche [00:16:20]
On the path forward
"None of the reconstruction or return of people who have had to leave will happen until the conflict winds down. That's where the pressure will be, and that's where we'll continue to maintain it. Along with Prime Minister Carney, that commitment remains firm." — Randeep Sarai [00:19:59]
Editor's note: funding breakdown clarification
Following the interview, the minister's office provided a clarification on the funding figures. The $107 million referenced for 2025 represents Canada's total international assistance for Sudan only, comprising $68 million in humanitarian aid, $14.5 million in development assistance, and $24.8 million in peace and stabilization funding. Canada also separately allocated $22 million to Chad and $31 million to South Sudan in humanitarian assistance in 2025.
The 2026 announcement of $120 million was bundled differently. The $94 million for humanitarian assistance is distributed as follows: $50.9 million for Sudan, $16.6 million for Chad, $23.9 million for South Sudan, and $3 million for regional programming. The remaining $26.25 million covers development programming ($25 million) and peace and stabilization assistance ($1.25 million). The year-over-year figures are therefore not a direct like-for-like comparison.
About the guest
The Honourable Randeep Sarai is Canada's Secretary of State for International Development, appointed to the role by Prime Minister Mark Carney in May 2025. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre, British Columbia, since his 2015 election. Born and raised in Burnaby, BC, to Sikh parents who immigrated from Punjab, India, Sarai holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University. He practiced law before entering public life. He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. He has described his approach to international development as rooted in the Sikh principle of seva — service — and has expressed a personal commitment to ensuring that Canadian foreign aid reaches the most vulnerable communities worldwide.
Where to find the guest
Official Government of Canada page canada.ca/en/government/secretaries-of-state/randeep-sarai.html
- Parliament of Canada ourcommons.ca/members/en/randeep-sarai
- X (Twitter) @RandeepSarai
Useful resources
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Sudan page: unocha.org/sudan
- International Rescue Committee (IRC) Sudan crisis overview: rescue.org
- Amnesty International Sudan conflict page: amnesty.org/en/projects/sudan-conflict
- Human Rights Watch Sudan reporting: hrw.org
- Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect — Sudan: globalr2p.org/countries/sudan
- Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (Montreal): rwchr.ca
- UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan — El Fasher genocide report (February 2026): ohchr.org
- Sudan Humanitarian Fund — donate to vetted on-the-ground partners: sudanhumanitarianfund.org
