Massad Boulos U.S. Senior Advisor For Arab And African Affair
In a major shift in U.S. policy toward the conflict in Sudan, the Trump administration has officially designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity, with plans to formally list it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective March 16, 2026.
The announcement was accompanied by a statement from Massad Boulos, U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, who emphasized that the move is part of a broader strategy to isolate malign actors and curb the influence of Iran in the region.
According to Boulos, the designation serves as a critical tool to hold accountable those who have perpetrated atrocities against civilians during Sudan’s protracted civil war.
“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, in designating the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the United States continues using all available tools to counter terrorism, counteract the malign influence of Iran, and hold accountable those who have perpetrated crimes against civilians in Sudan,” Boulos stated.
The U.S. State Department identified the SMB as being composed of the Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) and its armed wing, the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB). The BBMB, which had already been sanctioned by the Treasury Department in late 2025, is accused of carrying out mass executions and fueling the conflict with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Beyond the sanctions, Boulos highlighted the “immense suffering” of the Sudanese people and urged the warring factions the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to prioritize the lives of civilians.
Key Objectives of the U.S. Strategy:
- Immediate Humanitarian Truce: To allow lifesaving aid to reach millions facing famine and displacement.
- Political Dialogue: Creating a neutral space for Sudanese civilians to negotiate a transition to a civilian-led government.
- Regional De-escalation: Working with “the Quad” (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the U.S.) to ensure regional stability.
“It’s time for the parties to immediately accept the humanitarian truce to enable lifesaving aid to reach civilians and create space for dialogue,” Boulos added.
The designation marks the latest step in a sustained U.S. campaign against Muslim Brotherhood affiliates, following similar moves against branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon earlier this year. For Sudan, the move signals Washington’s intent to dismantle the parallel patronage and militia structures that U.S. officials argue are obstructing a permanent ceasefire.
While the RSF has welcomed the move as a blow to its rivals’ Islamist backers, the SAF has historically relied on SMB-linked militias for manpower. This designation places significant financial and diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese military leadership to distance itself from these groups or face further international isolation.
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