Islamic State denounces both Sudanese factions as ‘part of the infidel world order,’ calls for jihad

The Islamic State (ISIS) says that both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) “are part of the infidel world order, seeking to enforce the ignorant borders that restrict Muslims and imprison them….Whoever follows the steps they took under the supervision of America and Saudi Arabia knows that they are both fighting against Sharia and are only loyal to the Jews and Christians.”

Note once again that ISIS grounds its appeal wholly and solely in Islamic terms. Yet Western analysts continue to insist that the group is not Islamic. Note also that the Islamic State assumes that one is either loyal to the Muslims or to the Jews and Christians. “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are ruthless against the unbelievers and merciful among themselves.” (48:29)

“Analysis: Islamic State calls for jihad in Sudan,” by Caleb Weiss, Long War Journal, January 24, 2025:

“Sudan is forgotten!” reads the headline of the editorial in this week’s Al Naba newsletter, the Islamic State’s weekly publication highlighting its global activities. In the commentary, the terrorist group’s editors explicitly make a call for jihad and argue that Muslims in Sudan should take up arms under the Islamic State’s banner.

The Islamic State now joins its rival, Al Qaeda, in fomenting violent jihad and encouraging Sudanese individuals and groups to join its cause. Al Qaeda first called for a Sudanese jihad in late 2022, just months before the country’s current civil war began.

“Among the wounds that are bleeding silently and without stopping are the wounds of our oppressed brothers in forgotten Sudan, where Muslims there are exposed to the most heinous crimes of murder, imprisonment, torture, violation of their honor, and the theft of their money and property,” the editorial states.

The Islamic State argues that both sides of Sudan’s brutal civil conflict are responsible for engaging in these activities, explicitly stating that “[Abdel Fattah] al Burhan and [Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo] Hemeti are enemies of Islam, as such they must be opposed, disbelieved in, and neither of them should be relied upon, no matter the outcome of the war between them.”

Burhan, recently sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, is the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the de facto leader of Sudan. Hemeti, also sanctioned by the US government, is the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a continuation of the former Janjaweed militias responsible for the genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s.

Both the RSF and SAF were instruments of power under the regime of former dictator Omar al Bashir. Following Bashir’s deposal in early 2019, a transitional government led by both civilians and the military headed Sudan until October 2021, when the SAF removed all civilian leadership and declared military rule. The SAF and RSF then vied for power and influence under the military regime until the tensions finally turned to open bloodshed in April 2023.

Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of committing mass atrocities and grave human rights abuses since the civil war began.

The two main factions of the civil war, according to the Islamic State, “are part of the infidel world order, seeking to enforce the ignorant borders that restrict Muslims and imprison them.” The editorial continues by saying that “whoever follows the steps they took under the supervision of America and Saudi Arabia knows that they are both fighting against Sharia and are only loyal to the Jews and Christians.”

According to the terrorist group’s commentary, the solution to bring back the honor and dignity of Muslims in Sudan is quite simple: jihad. “Supporting Muslims in Sudan is the duty of every able Muslim, just as in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, and elsewhere,” the editorial states. “This can only be achieved through jihad and fighting, or through spending money [to support jihad], or through encouragement [of jihad].”

In addition to extolling the virtues of supporting fellow Muslims, the Islamic State doubles down on its call to arms. “This is a message to the Muslim youth and mujahideen inside Sudan about working diligently to exploit the situation for the benefit of jihad, either through recruitment or preparation, in order to establish a nucleus that confronts the short-term dangers and help establish a long-term jihad.”

Speaking to regular civilians, the Islamic State ends its rant by encouraging them to turn to Islam, announce a jihad, and support the mujahideen since, according to the global jihadist group, this is the only way to save themselves.

Working towards jihad in Sudan

Though the Islamic State is just now publicly calling for jihad inside Sudan, it has quietly operated in the country with a dedicated cell since at least 2019—though recruiters and facilitators had been active before then. Sudanese fighters were among the largest foreign component of the Islamic State in Libya during its height in 2016, for instance….