Islamic Movement (MB) aims to regain power in Sudan through war

In the midst of Sudan’s ongoing crisis, which began with the outbreak of war in April 2023, the Islamic Movement’s (Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood) ambitions for power have become increasingly clear.

Despite its deep involvement and alliance with General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) in the current conflict, the group has never abandoned its desire to regain control, even at the cost of innocent lives and the future of the nation.

This war, according to experts, is a strategic attempt to sabotage the December 2018 revolution that ended their authoritarian rule and opened the door to the Sudanese people’s hopes for freedom, peace, and justice. Rather than seek resolution, the Islamic Movement is working tirelessly to subvert these dreams by promoting false slogans, such as “Battle for Dignity,” while, in reality, the conflict aims to restore the oppressive regime.

From the outset, the Islamic Movement recognized the importance of controlling media outlets to serve its agenda. They launched a propaganda campaign to present the war as a national and honorable struggle, deliberately concealing its true nature. Through misleading videos and articles, they sought to portray their militia as a patriotic force dedicated to Sudan, despite the grim reality on the ground.

These deceptive tactics are nothing new for the Islamic Movement, whose longstanding strategy has involved using religious and nationalist rhetoric to justify their actions. The terms “jihad” and “defending Sudan” are recycled from their past, now employed to mask the group’s true goal: to dismantle the revolution.

They have attempted to convince the Sudanese public that they are the true defenders of the country, hoping to recover some of the popularity they lost after the fall of the previous regime.

The Islamic Movement’s efforts go beyond media manipulation, having extended to political alliances with individuals and groups who fell into their ideological trap. These allies, whether out of ignorance or in pursuit of temporary political gains, have unwittingly become accomplices in the crimes being committed against the Sudanese people.

This support has provided the Islamic Movement with political cover, helping them pursue their agenda. With this shield, they have targeted the Resistance Committees—symbols of the revolution—through mass arrests and violent purges. These acts of aggression underline the movement’s determination to silence any opposition to their authoritarian project.

One of the most brutal manifestations of the Islamic Movement’s agenda is the rise of the “Barra Bin Malik” brigade, which has pledged to protect the old regime and return its leaders to power. This militia is nothing more than an updated version of the repressive tools used by the Islamic Movement during its years in power. Now, operating under the guise of war, they are willing to use more deadly methods to achieve their goals.

Messages of reassurance sent to the ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir and leaders of the Islamic Movement confirm that the war is not about safeguarding Sudan, but rather about reversing the political clock. Their stated intentions to eliminate those calling for revolutionary change and prevent opponents from entering the country reflect their vision to turn Sudan into a large prison for anyone who resists their dominance.

The Sudanese Revolution was a seismic event that shook the foundations of the Islamic Movement and removed it from the grip of power it had held for decades. The fall of Bashir’s regime was not just a political loss but a blow to the global Islamist network, which lost a key ally and a strategic geographical foothold.

Since the revolution’s inception, the Islamic Movement has relentlessly worked to undermine it. From attempts to fracture the revolution’s unity to infiltrating state institutions and sabotaging the democratic transition, they have sought to derail progress. When their efforts through peaceful means failed, they turned to military action, viewing the war as their last opportunity to reclaim lost power.

What Sudan experiences today is the direct result of these unyielding attempts to resurrect the old regime. The war has not only caused physical and human devastation but has also revived the same methods of oppression that characterized Bashir’s regime.

Physical purges, arbitrary arrests, misleading media campaigns, and the fostering of ethnic and tribal divisions reflect the Islamic Movement’s vision for Sudan—a fragmented, weakened nation they can dominate without opposition.

Despite these ongoing challenges, the Sudanese people remain the only hope for resisting this dark plot. The revolution that toppled Bashir was not a fleeting event; it represented the powerful will of a people that cannot easily be broken. The Sudanese remain capable of confronting these attempts by holding on to the principles of their revolution and uniting in opposition to this senseless war.

National forces must recognize the weight of the responsibility they carry and work together to confront the Islamic Movement’s project. The nation’s future is too valuable to be sacrificed for political gains, and Sudan cannot afford to allow the Islamic Movement to achieve its goals at the expense of innocent lives and future generations.

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