Muslim Brotherhood's hold on Sudan army: How al-Baraa confirmed what al-Burhan denies

Activists on social media circulated statements by Oweis Ghanem, a leading figure in the al-Baraa ibn Malik Battalion affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan, speaking before a public gathering about the close relationship with the armed forces in Port Sudan.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Port Sudan–based army, had categorically denied any connection between the Muslim Brotherhood—listed as a terrorist organization in many regional countries—and the Sudanese Armed Forces in Port Sudan.

But the circulation of Ghanem’s remarks revealed detailed information about the Brotherhood’s penetration of Port Sudan’s army forces and the growth of its armed militias from a battalion to a brigade and then to a corps, thanks to the army’s support through training and weapons.

Ghanem disclosed that the Muslim Brotherhood’s battalion, “al-Baraa ibn Malik”—which he describes as the army’s reserve forces—received intensive training from the armed forces in Port Sudan, and took part in battles and military operations before the outbreak of the current war in mid-April 2023.

He said: “Most of the fighters in the al-Baraa ibn Malik Battalion trained in army camps under prominent military commanders, and we became the army’s special reserve forces.”

He then revealed pre-war operations, saying: “We fought battles in Blue Nile and other areas before this war, but during the current conflict we succeeded in developing and expanding into a corps.”

The Muslim Brotherhood leader continued: “The armed forces are the ones who trained us and taught us everything—from assembling and disassembling weapons to handling different types of arms. We trained very well, in the air and on the ground, and we learned from the army that sweat in training saves blood in battle.”

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had categorically denied any relationship between the Brotherhood and the Port Sudan authority, accusing Massad Paul, senior adviser on Arab and African affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump, of lying for saying that the Brotherhood controls the army in Port Sudan.

Al-Burhan said: “Massad Bolous may be an obstacle to the desired peace in Sudan, because his narrative about the Brotherhood’s control of the army is nothing more than a scare tactic. He even threatens us, claiming we are blocking aid deliveries and using chemical weapons.”

At the same time, al-Burhan renewed his rejection of the proposal by the Quad—comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt—to resolve Sudan’s crisis, a plan that includes ending the war and moving immediately into a humanitarian truce followed by a cease-fire.

Tensions and contradictions in Port Sudan reached a peak when Foreign Minister Mohyeddin Salem announced a position contrary to al-Burhan’s and welcomed the Quad’s plan at a press conference, before retracting his statement and claiming he had been reading from “the wrong document,” returning to declare his rejection of the proposal.

Amid Port Sudan’s refusal of all peace initiatives, al-Burhan said: “We are not war-mongers and we do not reject peace, but no one can impose their conditions on us,” affirming that the war would continue.

He again ruled out negotiations, saying: “No one can impose upon us Hamdok—the former Sudanese prime minister—or Hemedti—the commander of the Rapid Support Forces.”

Al-Burhan rejected all calls for a truce or a cease-fire in recent months, while the Rapid Support Forces repeatedly welcomed negotiations and an immediate end to the war to relieve civilian suffering. Days ago, the RSF announced a “unilateral truce” in response to Port Sudan’s persistent refusal of cease-fires.

In an official statement, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti” said: “Based on our national responsibilities and in response to international efforts—foremost the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump and the efforts of the Quad—we announce a humanitarian truce that includes a cessation of hostilities for three months and agreement to form an international monitoring mechanism.”

On the reasons for the truce, Dagalo said it “aims to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to areas affected by the conflict, in response to international efforts aimed at peace and the interests of the Sudanese people,” expressing hope that “the other side” would respond to the initiative.

The Rapid Support Forces—part of the “Ta’sis” coalition based in Nyala and comprising civilian, political, and military forces—assert that the army in Port Sudan has transformed into “the army of the Islamic Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood.” This is a claim documented by rights groups, UN and international bodies, and by militias and armed units affiliated with the extremist organization itself, while al-Burhan continues to deny it at all times.