The Islamic State terror group calls for jihad in Sudan amid civil war

The Islamic State terror group has issued a call for jihad in Sudan, urging Muslims within the country to take up arms under its banner. In the latest editorial of Al-Naba, the group’s official weekly, the Islamic State condemns the suffering of Sudanese Muslims, accusing both sides of the ongoing civil war—led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti)—of crimes against Islam.

The so-called editorial calls these leaders “enemies of Islam” and declares them “infidels” unworthy of trust.

The rant, which highlights the global jihadist agenda of the Islamic State, positions Sudan as a “forgotten” battleground where Muslims face extreme violence. It explicitly states that the solution to restoring dignity to Sudanese Muslims is through jihad, urging Muslims to support their cause either by fighting, funding, or recruiting for the movement.

The terror group aims to establish a lasting presence in the country, promoting its message to young Muslims and jihadists, emphasizing that only jihad can end their persecution.

While this public call marks a new phase of ISIS involvement in Sudan, the Islamic State has maintained a network in the country since at least 2019.

The network, which has operated covertly, serves primarily as a logistical and financial support hub for the group’s operations across Africa. Reports from the UN suggest that the Islamic State’s Sudanese network, led by Abu Bakr al-Iraqi, includes businesses that help fund its operations in Africa, notably in West Africa and the Sahel.

Though Sudan has cracked down on the Islamic State’s presence, including arrests and raids, the group’s network persists, and with this new call to arms, its role in Sudan may shift from logistical support to active combat. The Islamic State’s strategic aim is to establish a new “province” in Sudan, a move that could exacerbate the violence already plaguing the nation.

This development comes amid competition from al-Qaeda, which has also called for jihad in Sudan. However, despite al-Qaeda’s long history in the country, its calls for action have not yet gained significant traction, though its covert operations remain a possibility.

Both organizations are attempting to capitalize on Sudan’s ongoing civil war, offering jihad as a means to rally support among the population as the conflict continues to spiral into further chaos and human rights abuses.

As the civil war continues to worsen, these jihadist groups are likely to find more opportunities to recruit and engage directly in Sudan’s conflict, further complicating the already dire situation.

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