Egyptian security forces arrested Almesbah Abu Zeid Talha, commander of the Islamist-leaning Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade allied with General al-Burhan’s army (SAF), at his Alexandria residence early Tuesday morning, sources with direct knowledge of the operation reported.
Around 8:00 a.m., three security vehicles swept into Talha’s home in the Al-Ajami district, detaining him without explanation and transporting him to an undisclosed location. His family has not been informed of the charges against him.
Talha, who has led his brigade in support of the Sudanese military’s campaign against the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, had been in Egypt for approximately four weeks seeking medical treatment and visiting relatives. A senior member of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council is reportedly in urgent talks with Egyptian officials to clarify the basis of Talha’s detention and negotiate his release.
While Egyptian authorities have not publicly disclosed the grounds for the arrest, unverified reports suggest it may relate to alleged unauthorized religious activities—an offense under Egyptian law for foreign residents lacking prior approval.
This is not Talha’s first detention abroad: in June of last year, Saudi authorities briefly held him upon his arrival for the Umrah pilgrimage, though no formal charges were ever announced. His latest arrest underscores the complex cross-border dynamics affecting Sudan’s military-aligned groups amid ongoing national conflict.
