A Surge in Islamism Widens Rift Between Sudanese Army and Its Regional Allies

A surge in radical Islamism in Sudan has strained ties between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its regional allies, especially Egypt. These tensions have prompted the allies to distance themselves from the military and urge a resolution to the ongoing civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On September 12, the Quad — comprising of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates — issued a statement calling for a three-month ceasefire and power transition talks between the warring factions. The SAF rejected the proposal the next day, labeling it an infringement on Sudanese sovereignty and insisting that only a military victory over the RSF and continued military rule would suffice.

“The Sudanese government does not accept any international or regional interventions that do not respect the sovereignty of the Sudanese state and its legitimate institutions supported by the Sudanese people, as well as its right to defend its people and land,” the SAF declared in a statement. The statement added: “The Sudanese government emphasizes that engagement in internal affairs is a sovereign right granted by the Sudanese government in accordance with the supreme interests of the Sudanese people, without guardianship from any entity or alliance.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, which imposed sanctions on the SAF’s finance minister and the al-Baraa Bin Malek Brigade (BBMB), an allied Islamist militia, on September 12, demonstrated a keen understanding of the role of Islamists in Sudan’s ongoing crisis.

“Sudanese Islamist elements have long been a destructive force in Sudan, most notably during the Islamist regime of former President Omar al-Bashir (Bashir), who governed Sudan for 30 years until 2019,” the Treasury stated. “More recently, Sudanese Islamists have played a key role in derailing Sudan’s progress toward a democratic transition, including by undermining the former civilian-led transitional government and the Framework Political Agreement process.”

Tensions between the SAF and Egypt in particular have been brewing for some time. In August, Mosbah Abuzeyd, leader of the BBMB, was arrested during a trip to Egypt. SAF chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan intervened to secure his release. Two weeks later, Egypt freed the militia leader but pressed Burhan to reassure the international community that the SAF controlled its allied militias.

To alley Egyptian fears, Burhan decreed that all non-state actors must operate under his army’s command, but few were convinced that his resolution had teeth. Many Sudan observers believe that in the SAF-Islamist alliance, the Islamists — mostly remnants of Bashir’s regime — hold the upper hand.

As Egypt grows wary of Burhan’s inability to rein in his Islamist allies, Saudi Arabia aligned with Cairo to push the Quad to issue the September 12 statement, which sidelined both the SAF and RSF. The goal was to empower civilians, such as former Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdouk and his Somoud coalition, to lead Sudan’s post-war transition.

Notably absent from the Quad’s call for a settlement were Turkey and Qatar, key supporters of Sudan’s Islamists. Reports indicate that Ankara has supplied the SAF and its militias with advanced drones, shifting the war’s momentum against the RSF. Likewise, on September 15, Qatar welcomed Burhan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Doha, where he condemned an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital the previous week.

Whether Turkey and Qatar can act as spoilers and prolong the conflict remains uncertain. However, Burhan’s defiance suggests he is emboldened by regional backing, particularly from these Islamist-leaning nations.

As the conflict deepens, both the SAF and RSF have entrenched their positions, each forming rival governing bodies. The SAF and its Sovereignty Council established the Hope Transition Government in May, while the RSF created a Presidential Council and its Tasis (Arabic for “founding”) Government in July. The SAF controls northern and eastern Sudan, while the RSF governs the south and west, effectively splitting the country into two de facto states.

The surge of Islamism within the SAF’s territory threatens Sudan’s unity and stability. The international community, led by the United States, must intensify pressure on all parties — especially players who are not in the Quad but involved in the conflict such as Turkey and Qatar — to end the war, preserve Sudan’s unity, and transition power to civilians. A three-month ceasefire could serve as a critical first step.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Hussain and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Hussain on X @hahussain. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.