Sudanese author Atef Abdullah Qasim Al-Sayed has highlighted ongoing tensions between the head of the SAF, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Islamist cleric Abdul Hay Youssef, describing the rift as emblematic of broader divisions between the military establishment and the Muslim Brotherhood.
This conflict has been fueled by widespread regional and international opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood’s return to Sudan’s political scene, which has diminished the SAF’s support from external actors.
In an article published in the Sudanese newspaper Al-Taghyeer, al Sayed characterized the fallout as the end of a “marriage of convenience” between the military and Islamists.
He specifically pointed to remarks made by Abdul-Hay Youssef, a fugitive cleric accused of radicalism, as a catalyst for the divide.
Concrete Actions Demanded to Break Ties
Al-Sayed called on al-Burhan to back his rhetoric with tangible measures.
These include apprehending National Congress Party members who escaped from prison, extraditing them to the International Criminal Court, disbanding Islamist militias, and dismantling networks of officers loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood within the military, including those in al-Burhan’s inner circle.
“Only then can we believe the divorce has truly occurred,” adding that such steps would strengthen al-Burhan’s position in the eyes of people.
A Shift Towards a Unified Sudanese Army
Al-Sayed concluded by emphasizing the need for the Sudanese Armed Forces to restore its role as a national institution, free of partisan affiliations.
“When this happens, the army will no longer be seen as al-Burhan’s army or the Islamists’ army—it will once again be Sudan’s army.”
This transformation, he suggested, could rebuild domestic and international trust in Sudan.
Regional and Global Implications
The tensions come amid speculation about al-Burhan’s recent international engagements, including allegations of clandestine deals and efforts to reposition Sudan on the side of Iran and Russia.
Observers continue to question whether his leadership will deliver a decisive break with Sudan’s Islamist past or perpetuate cycles of political and military entanglement.
