Muslim Brotherhood’s Shadow Brigades hinders Sudan’s transitional period

Mahmoud Mohammadi

Among the many economic hurdles, many security threats and the latest escalating bloody events in Port Sudan, the transitional civilian government of Sudan is facing serious threats and a heavy legacy of conflicts, debts and crises.

Adding to these threats, within the latest months, a paramilitary group were seen fighting, shooting rubber bullets at protesters and hindering medics from reaching the injured.

In other news, Sudanese main opposition forces have accused the former regime of supporting and providing weapons to these brigades to disperse protesters and bring down the revolution.

Abdel-Moneim Suleiman, a Sudanese political analyst, said that the regime of ousted President Omar al-Bashir relied on popular security and did not depend much on official apparatuses, pointing out that Ali Othman Taha was the one leading the Shadow brigades.

“These Islamist militias have partisan and economic interests, so they will fight for the restoration of the former regime, stressing that the shadow battalions will surely lose the battle because the balance of power has differed,” he added.

He also added that these militias are trying to strike the relationship between protesters and parties, stressing that it is the first priority for the junta to eliminate popular defense forces and other militias.

In remarks to The Reference, Mohamed Ezzeddin, a researcher specializing in African affairs, said the Muslim Brotherhood only exists where chaos and political turmoil lie, therefore, they always seek to spark controversies and sow discord.

He also added that the Muslim Brotherhood manage to separate the Sudanese people, affirming that the brotherhood aims to get back in power again.

It is pertinent to mention that during the 70s, the Muslim Brotherhood planted security apparatuses under the name “shadow brigades” within the Sudanese security authority, with an aim to protect its interests and foil the revolution.