Head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan warned that the military would confront an Islamist group wearing army uniforms after it called on fighters it described as “mujahideen” to join Iran if it faced a ground invasion by the United States or Israel.
Burhan said the Sudanese Armed Forces would not allow any party to speak in its name or exploit its identity to pursue political or ideological goals.
He signaled that strict measures could be taken, warning to back down and return to what he called “the right path”.
His remarks echoed a statement issued Tuesday by the official spokesperson of the Sudanese army, which said the armed forces would take legal action against groups linked to the Islamist movement.
The group had declared during a communal Ramadan iftar that it was ready to defend Iran if it faced a ground invasion by the United States or Israel, sparking wide debate in political and media circles.
Burhan: We stand with Gulf states
Speaking Wednesday evening after a joint iftar with military leaders, Burhan described the war in the Middle East as “sad for us,” adding that the Sudanese people know the harshness of war after suffering from it for years.
“No Sudanese would encourage the outbreak of war or call for it,” he said, urging all those carrying weapons to lay them down and work to halt the cycle of violence.
Burhan also expressed solidarity with the Gulf Arab states, saying they had supported Sudan over the years.
“Our brothers in the Gulf have extended many helping hands to Sudan and played great roles in supporting it. We stand with them in full solidarity,” he said.
He stressed that Sudan rejects any violation of the sovereignty of the Gulf states and said Sudan does not wish to see their peoples placed in painful situations or subjected to infringements on their sovereignty, adding that Sudan’s solidarity with them is “complete and unwavering.”
Burhan warned what he called “our brothers who are making noise inside Sudan,” without naming them, saying: “We will not allow any group to speak in the name of the armed forces or the Sudanese state on matters that do not concern them.”
“Everyone should open their eyes carefully, and if they do not... we will open them for them and then close them,” he said, adding that the authorities would not accept exploiting the space of freedom against Sudan and its people.
He vowed to stand against them and against anyone who supports or encourages aggression anywhere in the world. “We are a peaceful state and seek peace. Therefore, in clear terms, we warn anyone against making statements that harm the state,” he added.
Islamist commander calls for supporting Iran
Burhan’s reaction came after Naji Abdullah, one of the leaders of Islamist jihadist fighters, said in a speech to members of the al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, in the presence of militia leader al-Misbah Talha, that the group backed Iran.
“We support Iran, and I say this on behalf of all the mujahideen in Sudan: if a ground war begins between the Americans and the Iranians, open the way for us to participate in it,” he said.
The al-Baraa bin Malik group was one of the shadow battalions during the rule of the Islamist movement under former president Omar al-Bashir. After the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, it joined the army in the fighting.
Abdullah’s remarks align with the stance of Sudan’s Islamist movement, historically aligned with Iran, while the army’s position reflects Sudan’s current regional relations.
Divisions among Islamists
Islamists fighting alongside the army appeared divided over the issue. Some criticized the army’s position on the Middle East conflict, describing it as “weak,” while others appeared to accept it tactically, even as they condemned measures taken against Abdullah.
Separately, Ali Karti, secretary-general of the Islamic Movement in Sudan, condemned what he described as the targeting of Arab and Islamic countries and attempts to “stir discord and fragment the unity of the nation.”
In a statement, he said the challenges facing the Muslim world were not isolated incidents but part of a broader project aimed at weakening it and undermining its unity.
Karti condemned attacks on Arab and Islamic countries and violations of their sovereignty, describing the war as aggression by Israel and those backing it against “resistance forces” in the region, with the aim of “breaking the will of the nation and weakening its ability to defend itself.”
He said the movement’s current focus is on defending Sudan and its people against what he called “forces of evil,” adding that its leadership and members remain committed to that approach and that any statements contradicting it do not represent the movement.
