The U.S. Department of State announced on Monday the designation of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and signalled its intent to list the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
According to the State Department, the SMB comprises the Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) and its armed wing, the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB). Washington accused the group of utilizing “unrestrained violence” against civilians to undermine peace efforts and advance a violent Islamist ideology.
The U.S. administration revealed that the SMB had contributed over 20,000 fighters to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Many of these combatants have reportedly received training and support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
U.S. officials further alleged that BBMB fighters have carried out mass executions in captured territories. These summary killings have reportedly targeted civilians based on race, ethnicity, or perceived affiliation with opposition groups.
The U.S. designation did not include the National Congress Party (NCP), which was established in 1998 by Sudanese Islamists under the leadership of Hassan al-Turabi as a governing umbrella and ruled Sudan until the collapse of the al-Bashir regime in April 2019. Additionally, the Popular Congress Party (PCP), a splinter group from the NCP, and the separate Muslim Brotherhood organisation in Sudan are not covered by this decision.
The designation marks a significant shift in U.S. policy following the January 2026 designation of the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. The move also follows discussions in the House Foreign Affairs Committee in February regarding the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act.
The BBMB was previously sanctioned by the Treasury Department in September 2025 under Executive Order 14098. By late February 2026, additional sanctions were placed on key Islamist figures, including Jibril Ibrahim, for their roles in the civil war.
The new SDGT status immediately blocks all SMB property and interests within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting business with the group. The department warned that third parties engaging in transactions with the SMB now face secondary sanctions risks.
The FTO designation will formally take effect upon publication in the Federal Register. This status will criminalize providing “material support” to the group and allow the U.S. to deny entry to its members and affiliates.
Credit: sudantribune.com
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