Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, a move that comes as part of a broader campaign against what he calls “radical Islamic terrorism.”
This decision is expected to have direct repercussions for the Islamist movement – the Muslim Brotherhood’s branch in Sudan.
The Muslim Brotherhood and Sudan
The Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan traces its roots back to the 1940s and was the ideological backbone of Omar al-Bashir’s rule (1989–2019), who established an Islamist regime supported by the Sudanese Islamist movement. After Bashir’s downfall in the 2019 revolution, the group regained its political and military influence.
Political groups and parties accuse the Muslim Brotherhood of exacerbating the Sudanese crisis, which has claimed the lives of over 150,000 people, displaced 10 million, and left 25 million facing starvation. Furthermore, they allege that the Muslim Brotherhood uses its positions as a cover for ideological posturing against secular movements and for obstructing humanitarian aid.
The potential repercussions of designating the Muslim Brotherhood
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would entail severe US sanctions. These sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and funding restrictions, directly targeting the movement in Sudan.
Khaled Omar Youssef, vice president of the Sudanese Congress Party and a leader in the Steadfastness Alliance, affirmed that the decision represents a significant international step against the group. He described it as responsible for the destruction of Sudan and the region, noting that it committed “genocide in the South, Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and the Blue Nile,” and continues to fuel the war in the country.
local political situation
Sudanese political analyst Salah Shuaib believes that designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization will fundamentally alter the balance of power in Sudan and the region. He added that the biggest loser will be Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Transitional Sovereign Council, who has relied on the Brotherhood as a base of political, military, and media support.
Shuaib argues that if Burhan rejects the US decision, he could lose the support of his regional and international allies. Conversely, accepting the designation would put him at odds with Islamist movements within the country.
Opportunities to end the war and restore civilian rule
Shuaib added that this decision comes at a time when Trump has offered to mediate an end to the war in Sudan, with a truce that would allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the restoration of civilian rule following the December Revolution. He indicated that designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization will pave the way for civilian forces to restore the democratic transition. This will contribute to rebuilding the country after years of chaos and ideological interference.
He concluded by saying that designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization represents a new glimmer of hope for Sudan and the region. This will be achieved by undermining the group’s influence and supporting civilian forces in restoring the state. It will also lay the foundations for a new transitional period that strengthens democratic governance and stability after years of conflict and internal wars.
