US study calls for Sudanese Islamists to be designated a terrorist organization and warns of regional repercussions

A recent study published by the Gatestone Institute, a US-based think tank specializing in foreign policy issues, called on the Trump administration to designate the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan as a terrorist organization, arguing that its growing influence threatens internal stability and increases the risk of a shift toward extremism. the Trump administration to designate the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan as a terrorist organization, arguing that its growing influence threatens internal stability and increases the risk of the country becoming a hotbed of cross-border extremism.The study noted that Washington had already designated branches of the group in other countries as terrorist organizations, arguing that the time was right to extend this approach to what it described as the Islamic Movement in Sudan as the local extension of the organization.

It referred to the US Treasury Department's decision to impose sanctions in September 2025 on the Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, alleging its involvement in destabilizing activities and alleged links to Iran. She considered that this classification reflects US concerns about the existence of a broader Islamist armed structure involved in ongoing military operations and linked to external actors.The study also pointed to reports from human rights organizations and church groups that spoke of the targeting of Christian communities and religious property in conflict areas, including damage to churches and civilian casualties. In response, the Sudanese armed forces have repeatedly denied deliberately targeting religious minorities.

The study addressed the US State Department's May 2025 announcement that it had concluded that the Sudanese government had used chemical weapons during 2024, citing reports of chlorine gas use in areas near Khartoum, without independent confirmation of these allegations from neutral sources.

According to the study, the influence of the Brotherhood within state institutions, including the military, was strengthened after the transitional phase that followed the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 faltered and then collapsed following the events of October 2021, allowing figures linked to the former regime to return to influential positions.

It warned that the continuation of this influence could threaten the stability of Northeast Africa and the Red Sea corridor, one of the most important arteries of global trade, considering that ignoring current developments could expand the scope of militant groups' activities in the region.

Since the outbreak of war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, Sudan has been experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of civilians displaced and living conditions deteriorating in several states.The study concluded by emphasizing that listing the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, as it describes it, is a necessary step to protect US interests and promote regional stability, warning of long-term repercussions if this measure is not taken.