U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a decision on Friday designating the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan as a foreign terrorist organization, in a move reflecting international hardening toward the group and its networks linked to the ongoing conflict in the country.
The U.S. Department of State filed the decision in the Federal Register, with it set to take effect on Monday, March 16, 2026.
The State Department said the decision followed a review of the administrative record of the case and consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, noting that there is a legal basis for applying Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the designation of foreign terrorist organizations.
The designation includes what Washington calls the “Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan,” as well as several affiliated groups, including the Sudanese Islamic Movement and the Baraa bin Malik Brigade, which emerged during the country’s armed conflict.”
This designation comes at a time of growing international concerns regarding the Sudanese Islamic Movement’s ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which are believed to have contributed to destabilizing Sudan and prolonging the war there.
Analysts believe this legal and political move will increase pressure on the group and may restrict its financial and political activities, while reshaping the international approach to parties linked to the conflict in Sudan.
