Fleeing Brotherhood figures feature in Erdogan-Bashir talks

by: Hind Ahmed

The fate of Muslim Brotherhood figures, who had escaped from Egypt to Sudan, featured highly in talks between Sudanese President, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during the latter’s latest visit to Khartoum.

The visit came only hours after the British government designated two Brotherhood-affiliated militant groups, namely Hasm and Lewa al-Thawra, “terrorist” movements.

Erdogan puts his full weight behind Qatar in its conflict with the anti-terrorism quartet, which comprises Saudi Arabia; the United Arab Emirates; Egypt, and Bahrain.

The positions of Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Cairo toward the Muslim Brotherhood are clear.

Istanbul has, however, turned into a safe haven for Muslim Brotherhood elements. Sudan is also an important hideout for Brotherhood members wanted by the courts in Egypt.

Hundreds of Brotherhood students study at Sudanese schools and universities.

Sudanese authorities help Brotherhood figures fleeing Egypt to settle down. Sudan has also turned into an essential refuge for Muslim Brothers wanting to settle down in it or use it to cross into another country.

Among other things, Erdogan wanted to reduce pressure practiced on Sudan by the US and some Gulf countries because of its ties with the Brotherhood, especially after the partial lifting of US economic sanctions on the country.

Khartoum also wants to cement its cooperation with Istanbul to reduce this pressure.

In February this year, Eric Reeves, who specializes in Sudanese affairs, published leaked documents on a Sudanese government meeting headed by Bashir, in which the Sudanese president instructed his cabinet members to offer support to Brotherhood figures escaping Egypt.

Hani Raslan, the head of the Sudan and Nile Basin Unit at Egyptian think tank, al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the Sudanese regime offers hiding to Brotherhood figures wanted in Egypt. These figures, he said, pose threats to Egypt’s security and stability.

He even categorized Sudan at the annual congress of Egyptian think tank, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, as an “enemy” state.

“This can easily be summed up by watching Sudanese media and reading the content of Sudanese newspapers,” Raslan said. “The current regime in Sudan views Egypt as an enemy state.”

This is why, Raslan noted, the Bashir government teams up with terrorist organizations in Libya and the governments of Qatar and Ethiopia against Egypt.

Bashir will most likely, observers say, allow fleeing Brotherhood figures to stay in his country because he is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is why, they add, Sudan offers financial support to the International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The fact is Bashir always uses the Brotherhood card to further the interests of his own regime.

Erdogan will maintain support to the Brotherhood too. His visit to Sudan aimed to offer political and media backing to the country’s regime which is little trusted by Egypt.

The Turkish president also wanted to convey the message that Sudan would continue to be part of the Brotherhood camp, although the country has strong ties with Saudi Arabia.

After all, Sudan’s ties with Turkey and Qatar are far stronger than those with Riyadh.