Sudanese Islamists proudly embrace U.S. sanctions against Ali Karti

KHARTOUM, September 28, 2023 – The disbanded National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement in Sudan jointly expressed their rejection of the sanctions recently imposed by the U.S. administration on the Islamist leader, Ali Karti. Instead, they view these sanctions as a source of pride and honour.

On Thursday, the United States announced individual sanctions against Ali Karti, the Secretary-General of the Sudanese Islamic Movement, and two companies associated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The U.S. Treasury Department stated that Karti “led efforts to obstruct Sudan’s progress towards a full democratic transition. This included undermining the former civilian-led transitional government and the Framework Political Agreement process, which contributed to the outbreak of hostilities between the Sudanese army (SAF) and RSF on April 15, 2023.”

In response, the Islamic Movement issued a statement declaring, “The decision of the U.S. Treasury Department is akin to a badge of honour for the Secretary-General of our movement. He has steadfastly dedicated himself and his resources as a jihadist in the name of God and the nation.”

The statement added, “Karti has selflessly sacrificed and remains ready to do more for the stability of Sudan and the triumph of its armed forces.”

Ali Karti and Islamist leaders are believed to have played a role in the coup d’état by Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25, 2021. Additionally, they opposed the framework agreement aiming to restore civilian rule signed by political forces, army leadership, and RSF before the outbreak of the war last April.

The Islamic Movement emphasized that it comes as no surprise that the United States is making unjust decisions and positioning itself on the wrong side during a pivotal era in Sudan’s history.

During the Islamic regime’s 30-year rule under Omer al-Bashir, the United States designated Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism and imposed economic sanctions.

In a separate statement, the dissolved National Congress Party hailed the U.S. sanctions against Ali Karti as “a matter of national pride.”

The outlawed party asserted, “The U.S. administration’s decision is aimed at fracturing the internal front, which had been united with all its national forces alongside the army in opposition to the Rapid Support Forces and its affiliate, the Forces of Freedom and Change.”

It is worth noting that Ali Karti previously held the position of Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs during Omer al-Bashir’s rule. Prior to that, he led the paramilitary Popular Defence Forces. After al-Bashir’s ousting, he assumed the role of Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement.

While Islamist groups mobilized armed militias to confront the RSF alongside the Sudanese army, al-Burhan has repeatedly denied that the army serves as a tool to reinstate the Islamists in power.

Following the October 25, 2021 coup, al-Burhan reintegrated Sudanese Islamists into government bodies and ministries at various levels, reversing their dismissal by the transitional civilian government. He also resisted calls to remove Islamist officers from the military, asserting that their affiliation with the military institution outweighs their ideological leanings.

Shihab Ibrahim, a prominent member of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), shared on his Facebook account that U.S. sanctions underscore the active involvement of the Islamic Movement and its militant elements in the ongoing armed conflict, all under the banner of a “war of honour.”

He further argued that this campaign ultimately seeks to return Islamists to power, disregarding the thirty years of destruction, warfare, and devastation that have affected all aspects of life in Sudan.