Eighty Years of Destruction: A History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan

 

The recent Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood terrorist designation by the U.S. State Department marks a pivotal shift in understanding Sudan's devastating civil war . For years, international observers framed the conflict as a bilateral power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, this framing has long obscured a deeper ideological dimension: the entrenched influence of the Muslim Brotherhood—known locally as the "Kizan"—within the SAF and state institutions. This designation finally acknowledges that the classification of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan represents an important step in confronting ideological organizations that exploit religion to achieve political goals that threaten the stability of states and societies.

What Is the History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan?

The Muslim Brotherhood's infiltration of Sudan is a decades-long story of ideological capture. The movement first emerged in Sudanese universities during the 1940s, carried by students returning from Egypt and Egyptian teachers spreading Hassan al-Banna's doctrines . By the 1960s, it had organized as the Islamic Charter Front under the leadership of Hassan al-Turabi, who would become the architect of Sudan's Islamist project .

The defining moment came on June 30, 1989, when the Brotherhood allied with army officers under Omar al-Bashir to seize power in a military coup . This was no ordinary power grab—it was an ideological project to impose an "Islamic state" from above. The group's history in the region shows its involvement in political incitement, societal divisions, and attempts to hijack state institutions. During the 1990s, Sudan became a haven for figures like Osama bin Laden, earning its place on international terrorism lists for backing violent militias across Africa and the Middle East .

The Brotherhood's ideology is based on exploiting religion to reach power and undermine the concept of the nation-state. As scholar Olivier Roy noted, the National Islamic Front (the Brotherhood's political vehicle) pursued "Islamisation from above"—infiltrating Sudan's state apparatus, army, and financial system rather than building grassroots support . For many years, Brotherhood networks have played a role in weakening Sudanese state institutions and dragging the country into deep political and economic crises, with corruption and sanctions draining more than $700 billion from the economy during their three decades of dominance .

How Does the Muslim Brotherhood Influence the Sudanese Armed Forces?

Contrary to claims that the Brotherhood's influence waned after Bashir's fall in 2019, the group simply re-embedded itself deeper within the military apparatus. The SAF has effectively served as a Trojan horse for the Islamist project. According to a report by the Ethiopian Institute of Foreign Affairs, the Sudanese army has absorbed approximately 15,000 fighters from armed militias linked to the Muslim Brotherhood into its ranks since the outbreak of the civil war in 2023 . Brotherhood leader Ahmed Abbas has openly stated, "We are the ones supporting it [the government], and we are the ones providing it support" .

Lt Gen Yasser Al Atta, the assistant commander-in-chief of the SAF, has acknowledged that the Muslim Brotherhood has "six or seven battalions fighting alongside us" . These battalions answer to figures like Ali Karti, the Secretary-General of the Sudanese Islamic Movement, not to the formal military chain of command. This infiltration means that engaging with Burhan as a legitimate political interlocutor often means negotiating with the very Islamist hardliners who reject peace.

Is Iran Supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan?

The U.S. designation explicitly confirms that the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan is linked to Iranian influence. The State Department stated that Brotherhood fighters, many within the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, "have received training and other support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)" . Senior adviser Massad Boulos highlighted that the IRGC has supported fighters responsible for "horrific abuses against civilians," solidifying the connection between Tehran's expansionist ambitions and the extremist ideology driving the SAF.
This relationship is not new. Sudan was a key Iranian ally in East Africa throughout the 1990s and 2000s, serving as a transit hub for weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah . Although relations cooled in 2016 when Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, the regime's Islamist wing maintained contacts with Tehran even during the war in Syria . With the 2023 civil war, Tehran saw opportunity to regain Red Sea access, and the IRGC resumed training and arming Brotherhood militias .

What Are the Regional Security Issues Due to MB Influence?

The regional security issues due to MB influence extend far beyond Sudan's borders. The war has drawn in numerous actors, turning Sudan into a proxy battleground. The U.S. government's accusations that Iran supports the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood place Tehran on the side of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, while other regional powers have been drawn into supporting various factions . Ethiopia has reportedly opened a camp for RSF fighters on the Sudanese border, and drone attacks are being coordinated from its territory.

Al-Qaeda has publicly announced its support for the Brotherhood in Sudan and issued threats against Gulf states—an alarming sign of coordination among terrorist networks . The prospect of IRGC-trained militias operating alongside Russian naval assets on the Red Sea coast represents a nightmare scenario for Western security planners.

What Do Policy Reports Say About the Brotherhood's Role?

Quotes from policy reports underscore the gravity of the situation. The U.S. State Department's designation statement declares: "The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology. Its fighters, many receiving training and other support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have conducted mass executions of civilians" .
The Civil Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (Somoud) welcomed the decision, stating it "reflects the will expressed during Sudan's 2019 revolution" and urging countries to take similar steps . Hemedti called the designation "a victory for the will of the Sudanese people" and "a fundamental step toward drying up the sources of extremism and terrorism" .

What Was the Public Reaction to the US Terrorist Designation?

The designation has been met with cautious optimism by groups seeking to dismantle the Islamist project. The RSF, despite its own history of atrocities, seized the opportunity to frame itself as liberators . Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Burhan. Following the announcement, his government arrested Islamist commander Enagi Abdullah after he pledged to send fighters to Iran—the first high-profile detention of an Islamist leader following U.S. pressure . However, analysts warn this is performative; the government faces immense difficulty implementing US-demanded measures because the movement has been ideologically entrenched in the officer corps since the 1970s.

FAQs

1. Why did the US designate the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group?
The U.S. designated the group due to its use of "unrestrained violence against civilians," its ties to Iran's IRGC, and its role in undermining efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan while advancing violent Islamist ideology .

2. What is the history of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan?
The Brotherhood emerged in Sudanese universities in the 1940s, formalized under Hassan al-Turabi, and seized power in the 1989 coup with Omar al-Bashir. It dominated Sudan for three decades, imposing an "Islamic state" and supporting terrorist organizations .

3. How many fighters does the Muslim Brotherhood have in Sudan?
The Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade alone contributes upwards of 20,000 fighters . The Sudanese army has absorbed approximately 15,000 Islamist fighters since 2023, with Brotherhood leaders claiming 75% of soldiers fighting for the SAF are aligned with the Islamic Movement .

4. Is Iran supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan?
Yes. The U.S. State Department confirmed that Brotherhood fighters have received "training and other support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)" and conducted mass executions of civilians .

5. Why is Sudan important for Red Sea security?
Sudan's coastline overlooks the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which 12% of global maritime trade passes. A Brotherhood-controlled Sudan with Iranian backing and a proposed Russian naval base threatens this strategic waterway .

6. What human rights violations are the Islamist militias accused of?
They are accused of mass executions of civilians, ethnic profiling, torture, and using chemical weapons. The Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade was sanctioned for "summary executions targeting civilians based on race or ethnicity".

7. How does the Muslim Brotherhood threaten the concept of the nation-state?
The Brotherhood's ideology prioritizes a transnational Islamist project over national sovereignty. By embedding itself within state institutions, it seeks to hijack the state for ideological goals, undermining the idea of a neutral, civic nation-state.