Sudan09 March, 20263 min read
Trump Administration Moves to Designate Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Group
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
U.S. designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as SDGT; plans FTO listing effective 16 March 2026. U.S. cited the group's role in civilian violence and supplying fighters to Sudan's war.
Designation announced
The Trump administration announced a U.S. designation of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity and said it intends to add an official Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) label effective March 16, 2026. Jewish Insider reported that “On Monday, the Trump administration moved to designate the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity and announced plans to impose a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation on March 16.”
“On Monday, the Trump administration moved to designate the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity and announced plans to impose a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation on March 16.”
Homeland Security Today likewise stated, “The Department of State is designating the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and intends to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective March 16, 2026.” Europe 1 summarized AFP reporting that “The United States designates the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan as a 'foreign terrorist organization'” and noted the measure follows earlier U.S. actions targeting Brotherhood branches in January.
U.S. rationale
U.S. officials framed the move as a response to extreme violence and ideological aims attributed to the SMB: State Department language cited by multiple outlets accuses the group of using “unrestrained violence against civilians” and of promoting a violent Islamist ideology. Homeland Security Today and Europe 1 also report allegations that SMB fighters have carried out mass executions and received training or other support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Jewish Insider repeats the administration’s claim that the SMB “uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology.”
Manpower and ties
U.S. statements and reporting emphasize the SMB’s manpower and Iranian ties: the State Department’s description, echoed in Europe 1 and Jewish Insider, says the group “have provided more than 20,000 fighters to the war in Sudan,” and U.S. sources assert many of those fighters received training and support from Iran’s IRGC. Homeland Security Today also highlights that the SMB’s armed wing, the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB), had previously been designated under an executive order for its role in Sudan’s war. Jewish Insider noted the SMB is composed of the Sudanese Islamic Movement and its armed wing, the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB).
“They 'have provided more than 20,000 fighters to the war in Sudan, many of whom received training and other forms of support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran,' the State Department added.”
Domestic reactions
Reactions inside Sudan and among regional actors were mixed: Sudan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the designation as consistent with its stated condemnation of terrorism, while the ministry and other actors used the moment to press the U.S. to also label the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as terrorists amid allegations of war crimes and genocide. Dabanga reported Khartoum’s statement that it “reaffirm[ed] Khartoum’s ‘principled and firm position in condemning all forms of terrorism and violent extremism, without exception or selectivity,’” and that the ministry “called on Washington to respond to 'strong calls to designate the Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist group,' accusing them of committing proven crimes, documented violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and terrorism.” Dabanga also quoted domestic political figures and civil society groups welcoming the move, while RSF commander Mohamed Dagalo framed the designation as a victory and blamed the Brotherhood for igniting the 2023 war.
Consequences and law
The designation triggers legal and financial measures and fits into a broader U.S. policy to counter Iranian influence, according to U.S. officials and media coverage. Europe 1 explained that an FTO label permits “asset freezes, prohibition of transactions, entry bans into the United States, etc.” Homeland Security Today noted the action was taken under U.S. legal authorities including section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224.
“The designation as a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ allows, in addition to political pressure, a series of financial and administrative measures: asset freezes, prohibition of transactions, entry bans into the United States, etc.”
Jewish Insider reported the administration said it would “use all available tools to deprive the Iranian regime and Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.” Dabanga recorded calls for other countries to follow suit.