Growing momentum supports a comprehensive strategy to end the conflict in Sudan and dismantle the extremist Muslim Brotherhood factions responsible for decades of suffering among the Sudanese population.
On September 14, the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) endorsed a joint statement from a coalition of four nations outlining a clear plan to bring peace to Sudan.
Both organizations expressed strong backing for urgent humanitarian access, civilian protection, and the proposed three-month humanitarian ceasefire-facilitated through the Jeddah process-as an initial move toward a lasting end to hostilities.
The joint declaration emphasized that the quartet’s approach “aligns completely with the peace roadmap developed by the African Union and IGAD.”
AU and IGAD committed to collaborating closely with the quartet, the Sudanese people, and international partners to halt the war, uphold Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and foster an inclusive political transition led by civilians.
Furthermore, the African Union and IGAD, alongside the League of Arab States, the United Nations, and the European Union, plan to convene a fresh round of consultations in October with Sudanese civil society. These discussions aim to strengthen national cohesion, lay the foundation for a comprehensive Sudanese-led dialogue, and advance the transition toward a constitutionally grounded civilian government.
Proposed Peace Framework:
On September 12, 2025, foreign ministers from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt unveiled a detailed roadmap to rescue Sudan from its ongoing crisis. They called for an immediate three-month humanitarian truce to facilitate swift aid delivery, followed by a permanent ceasefire. The ministers highlighted that the conflict between Sudan’s military and the “Tasis Coalition forces” has triggered one of the gravest humanitarian emergencies worldwide, jeopardizing regional stability and security, with no military solution in sight.
The coalition urged all factions to guarantee safe, unhindered humanitarian corridors, protect civilians, and cease indiscriminate attacks on critical infrastructure. The initial truce is envisioned as a stepping stone toward a comprehensive nine-month transitional period culminating in the establishment of an independent civilian government with broad-based legitimacy. The ministers pledged to exert all necessary efforts to support a political resolution involving all parties, safeguard civilians and infrastructure, and ensure humanitarian access.
The statement also underscored the urgent need to address threats from extremist groups operating across borders and to secure the Red Sea region. It warned that Sudan’s destiny must not be dictated by “violent extremist factions linked to the Muslim Brotherhood,” cautioning against their role in perpetuating violence and destabilizing the region.
Safeguarding Society:
Activist Walid Adam Madibo characterized the quartet’s focus on confronting the Muslim Brotherhood as a vital societal defense against corrupting influences that, if allowed to regain political power, would lead to national devastation. He observed: “In Sudan’s history, Islamist groups have distorted the essence of religion; what was once a faith rooted in liberation and solidarity with the oppressed has morphed into a doctrine that shields tyranny and legitimizes authoritarianism. Religion, which once challenged injustice, has become a fortress behind which despots conceal themselves; sacred texts intended to free people are now misused to justify oppression. This fusion of sanctity wielded for power and lingering exclusionary beliefs has created an ideology that rationalizes repression.”
Madibo further explained: “The damage is twofold: the loss of religion’s emancipatory spirit and the erosion of politics’ ethical boundaries, reducing religion to a tool that suppresses public notions of justice and equality.” He argued that Sudan’s Islamist movement-the faction responsible for dragging the nation into ruin-embodies both these afflictions: deep-rooted political corruption and documented criminal complicity.
He insisted that these groups “did not merely corrupt public institutions and dismantle the state from within; they perpetrated crimes against humanity witnessed by all. They are, without doubt, the villains of our era, combining intellectual betrayal, institutional destruction, and criminal violations.”
U.S. Sanctions and International Response:
In alignment with the quartet’s statement, the United States announced on September 12, 2025, sanctions targeting the Islamist militia “Al-Bara ibn Malik Brigade” and Sudan’s finance minister Jibril Ibrahim, citing their involvement in the civil war and close connections to Iran.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated that these measures aim to diminish the influence of Islamist factions within Sudan and curb Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region, which have intensified the conflict and worsened civilian suffering. The Treasury reaffirmed America’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to foster peace and stability in Sudan and prevent the country from becoming a refuge for actors threatening U.S. interests.
John K. Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, declared: “Sudanese Islamist groups have forged perilous alliances with the Iranian regime. We will not remain passive while they jeopardize regional and global security. We are deploying sanctions to disrupt these networks and safeguard U.S. national security.”
The Treasury highlighted that Islamist groups played a significant role in undermining Sudan’s state institutions, particularly during the three decades of former President Omar al-Bashir’s rule until his removal in 2019. Since then, these groups have obstructed the democratic transition by undermining the civilian transitional government and the political framework agreement.
Jibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, was accused of mobilizing thousands of fighters to support the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in widespread destruction and displacement. The Treasury noted his efforts to deepen political and economic ties with Iran, including a visit to Tehran last November.
The sanctions also target the Al-Bara ibn Malik Brigade, which deployed over 20,000 fighters against the RSF, relying on weapons and training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Members of this militia have been implicated in serious abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings of suspected RSF affiliates.
Sudanese activist Zuhair Osman Hamad described the quartet’s statement and U.S. sanctions as a concerted attempt to break the deadlock over international intervention in Sudan. He viewed the former as embodying the global community’s aspiration to halt the humanitarian disaster, and the latter as a decisive move to penalize those obstructing peace and exacerbating the crisis through dangerous alliances.
Hamad emphasized that the U.S. sanctions on Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim and the Al-Bara ibn Malik militia transcend mere responses to corruption or abuses. They send a multifaceted message aimed at disrupting complex regional alliances, exposing Iran’s influence, weakening its foothold in the Red Sea and Africa, and punishing Sudanese Islamists accused by Washington of derailing the democratic transition and igniting the conflict.
