Washington, District of Columbia, United States — The government of the United States has announced plans to formally designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, citing allegations of violent attacks against civilians during the ongoing war in Sudan.
The decision was disclosed on Monday, March 9, 2026, in a statement issued by the United States Department of State, the country’s main foreign affairs agency headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia. The statement was signed by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
According to the announcement, the group has already been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity by the United States government. The Department of State also confirmed that it intends to list the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization beginning on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
“Today, 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,” Rubio stated.
The United States government said the planned designation is part of broader efforts to respond to the violent conflict in Sudan, a North East African country that has been experiencing a devastating internal war since 2023. The conflict has caused widespread humanitarian suffering and displacement across the country.
American officials allege that the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has played a role in escalating the violence by targeting civilians and promoting extremist ideology.
“The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood uses unrestrained violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan and advance its violent Islamist ideology. Its fighters, many receiving training and other support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have conducted mass executions of civilians,” the statement said.
The Department of State also referenced the activities of the group’s armed wing known as the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade. The United States had previously imposed sanctions on the brigade in September 2025 because of its alleged involvement in the Sudanese conflict.
Rubio explained that the brigade was designated under Executive Order 14098, a United States presidential directive used to sanction individuals and organisations linked to armed conflict and terrorism.
“The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood’s al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade was designated pursuant to Executive Order 14098 in September 2025 for its role in Sudan’s brutal war,” he added.
In the same statement, Rubio accused Iran of providing support to militant groups around the world through its military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime has financed and directed malign activities globally through its IRGC. The United States will use all available tools to deprive the Iranian regime and Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism,” Rubio said.
The Department of State explained that the decision was made under legal powers granted by Section 219 of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act as well as Executive Order 13224, a policy framework that allows the United States government to identify and sanction organisations involved in terrorism.
Once the designation officially takes effect on Sunday, March 16, 2026, the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood could face severe financial restrictions, asset freezes, and criminal penalties for individuals or organisations that provide it with material support.
Okay News reports that the move reflects growing international concern about the role of armed groups and foreign involvement in the Sudan conflict, which continues to destabilise the country and the wider region.
