US Designates Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Group

The administration of President Donald Trump has designated the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, accusing it of violence against civilians and receiving support from Iran.

Announcing the decision on Monday, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the group would be listed as a “specially designated global terrorist” (SDGT) immediately and formally recognised as a “foreign terrorist organisation” (FTO) from March 16.

“The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology,” Rubio said in a statement.

According to the US State Department, the designation allows Washington to impose economic sanctions on the group and makes it illegal for individuals or organisations to provide it with material support.

The US government also alleged that the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has received backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has been involved in violent attacks during the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Officials further accused fighters linked to the group of carrying out “mass executions of civilians” amid the war between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Reacting to the decision, the government of the United Arab Emirates welcomed the move, describing it as part of efforts to curb violence and destabilising activities in Sudan.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the measure “reflects the sustained and systematic efforts undertaken by the administration of President Trump to halt excessive violence against civilians and the destabilising activities carried out by the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan.”

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928 by Egyptian scholar Hassan al-Banna, has branches and affiliated organisations across the Middle East, including political parties and social movements. The group has long maintained that it supports peaceful political participation.