U.S. Designates Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization
The United States has designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, citing its involvement in violence against civilians and ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On March 9, 2026, the United States Department of State designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity, with plans to classify it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective March 16. The State Department stated that the group, comprising the Sudanese Islamic Movement and its armed wing, the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, has employed "unrestrained violence against civilians" to destabilize Sudan and promote a violent Islamist ideology.
The U.S. administration accused the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood of deploying over 20,000 fighters in the ongoing conflict, many of whom have reportedly received training and support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The group has been implicated in mass executions and other human rights violations during the civil war.
The designation as an SDGT allows for economic sanctions against the group, while the FTO label will make it illegal to provide material support to the organization. The United Arab Emirates welcomed the U.S. decision, aligning closely with Washington's stance.
This move follows earlier actions by the U.S. Treasury in September 2025, which imposed sanctions on several Sudanese Islamist figures and entities accused of undermining peace efforts and collaborating with the IRGC. The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood's influence has been deeply embedded in Sudan's institutions, armed forces, and regional networks over the past four decades.
The U.S. designation underscores a broader strategy to curb political Islam in northeastern Africa and highlights the complexities of regional actors navigating the tension between domestic suppression and strategic alliances abroad.
