Al-Burhan Meets Leaders in Turkey: Are the Muslim Brotherhood Returning to the Forefront in Sudan?

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Well-informed sources have revealed that Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, made a secret visit to Turkey on March 30, 2025, where he joined his family for Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

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Although the visit was officially described as familial, behind the scenes it carried far deeper political objectives. Al-Burhan reportedly held meetings with leaders from Sudan’s former regime residing in Turkey, including prominent figures from the Muslim Brotherhood.

This visit precedes Al-Burhan’s expected participation in the international economic conference set to be held in Antalya on April 15, 2025, adding further political weight, particularly amid escalating regional and international attention to the Sudanese crisis.

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Strengthening the Alliance with the Brotherhood in Exile

Sources close to the Sudanese file stated that Al-Burhan used his presence in Turkey to conduct closed-door meetings with former regime officials who fled after the fall of Omar al-Bashir in 2019. These meetings focused on reorganizing the ranks of political Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, in preparation for their return to Sudan and participation in any future political settlement.

The sources added that Al-Burhan is working to strengthen a strategic relationship with these leaders in a bid to secure a political and popular cover that he currently lacks at home, especially with his waning popularity and diminishing military support from key units. He also seeks to regain balance in the face of the expanding power and territorial influence of the Rapid Support Forces.

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Shady Deals in the Making

Diplomatic reports, meanwhile, revealed that Al-Burhan offered the Turkish government joint investment projects in agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors, in exchange for facilitating the movements of Brotherhood members residing in Turkey and ensuring their public support for a new political roadmap being drafted to reintegrate them into Sudan’s state institutions.

This step reflects a blatant attempt to buy political influence through economic means—contradicting official claims that Sudan is moving toward a transparent democratic transition. Al-Burhan appears to be reshaping the political landscape of Sudan via the Turkish gateway, leveraging his military influence to impose a new reality that could return the country to authoritarian rule.

According to analysts, this approach poses a serious threat to peace and stability, particularly since the Muslim Brotherhood is widely rejected by the Sudanese public due to its long history of repression, exclusion, and dismantling of state institutions.

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A New Political Setback

Al-Burhan’s moves pave the way for another political setback in Sudan, especially as they coincide with ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as worsening humanitarian and economic conditions across the country. Any attempt to reinstate figures from the former regime through external deals is likely to face strong opposition from revolutionary forces and civil society, potentially reigniting the conflict.

Observers believe that Al-Burhan’s activities in Turkey are not merely personal but part of a broader project to reengineer power in Sudan in a way that ensures his political survival, through an alliance with a group historically tied to failure, corruption, and authoritarianism.

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