Islamist preacher Abdel Hay Youssif, suspected of having ties to ISIS, has launched a sharp critique of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his forces (SAF), accusing him of betrayal and claiming jihadists, not the SAF, deserve credit for recent battlefield victories.
Speaking at an event in Istanbul, Youssif accused both al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of ties to Israel, citing al-Burhan’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and alleging Dagalo’s connection to Mossad.
Youssif blamed al-Burhan for enabling RSF expansion, amending laws to support their growth, and allowing their occupation of key areas in Khartoum.
Once a supporter of General al-Burhan’s leadership, Youssif now holds him primarily responsible for Sudan’s ongoing conflict, claiming he “bears the greatest share of responsibility.”
The preacher also attributed recent battlefield gains to the Islamist “Popular Resistance” rather than the SAF, framing the war as a divine intervention to restore Islamist dominance.
He criticized Turkey for its neutrality in the conflict and expressed distrust over al-Burhan’s engagements with U.S. officials.
Youssif concluded by accusing al-Burhan of lacking credibility and leadership, citing incidents of alleged dishonesty with Qatar and failures to secure international alliances.
Extremist Preacher
Libyan officials in 2019 accused Youssef of financing and training ISIS elements in Libya, saying the Sudanese cleric pledged allegiance to the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and called for waging Jihad against the Libyan army.
Youssef has denied connections to Al-Qaeda, saying he didn’t deliver any lectures to extremist elements in Libya.
Libyan officials have presented a videotape in which Youssef was speaking after a mass “standing prayer” organised by jihadists to honour al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
