Amidst the ongoing civil war that continues to devastate Sudan, remnants of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) and its allies, including elements tied to the former security and military apparatus, are pushing forward with the Sudanese Certificate exams in Port Sudan.
This controversial decision not only underscores the government’s indifference to the humanitarian crisis and the country’s deepening instability but also reveals the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) calculated efforts to entrench loyalists in government positions.
A recent report has shed light on the significant infiltration of the MB into Sudan’s Popular Resistance movements, with particular concern over the Brotherhood’s growing influence within the Sudanese military, especially in the ranks of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The report has called for a comprehensive investigation into these troubling developments, which highlight the MB’s expanding footprint within the military and its increasing ability to manipulate the country’s political landscape.
In a revealing article, Sudanese writer and political analyst Dr. Al-Nour Hamad argues that the MB’s singular focus is on retaining power at any cost. While the MB was originally founded to seize and maintain political control, its history has been marked by a series of failures. From the civil wars in the South to the violent confrontations in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile, and now the ongoing conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the MB has consistently failed to secure lasting victories. Despite these repeated setbacks, their determination to monopolize Sudan’s political system remains unyielding, as they continue to assert dominance while sidelining opposition forces.
Sudanese protests have escalated, with citizens demanding an end to the violent actions of the MB’s armed factions. A recent exposé reveals how the MB is increasingly concealing its influence by creating new political groups, all while strengthening their grip on the country’s vital resources. According to Dr. Hamad, the MB’s focus on financial gain has come at the expense of the Sudanese people. Over the years, the MB has manipulated economic markets, removed qualified professionals from positions of power, and filled critical government roles with its own members. In doing so, they have looted Sudan’s wealth and left the nation’s economy in tatters.
Dr. Hamad goes on to criticize the MB for their transformation from a political movement into a parasitic entity, more concerned with power and wealth than the welfare of Sudan’s citizens. He describes the group as a deviant religious faction, whose actions have contributed to the country’s economic stagnation, rendering Sudan a pariah in the region. Despite this, the MB continues to prioritize its own agenda, further deepening the rift in Sudanese society.
The decision to move forward with the Sudanese Certificate exams, particularly in regions controlled by the SAF, is seen as a direct reflection of the MB’s divisive strategy. Approximately 400,000 students, representing two-thirds of the total candidates, reside in areas under the control of the RSF, and it is unlikely they will be able to sit for the exams. In a move that starkly exposes the government’s priorities, schools that once housed displaced refugees have been forcibly evacuated to make room for exam centers, demonstrating the regime’s callousness towards the needs of Sudan’s most vulnerable populations.
The ongoing internal conflict between General Burhan’s SAF and the MB has only deepened the country’s divisions, with each faction intensifying efforts to solidify its control over Sudan. Dr. Hamad suggests that the push for the exams is politically motivated, aimed at creating a façade of state stability to the international community. He argues that this is part of the MB’s broader campaign to undermine the RSF while capitalizing on Sudan’s weakened state to further its own objectives.
The financial burden of the exams is exacerbated by Sudan’s economic collapse, putting even greater strain on families already struggling to survive. Many students, faced with the looming threat of arrest under the “foreign faces” law, must navigate a volatile and dangerous environment to attempt the exams. For some, the exams have become a symbol of the government’s disregard for the pressing needs of the Sudanese people.
In conclusion, Dr. Hamad asserts that the MB’s actions surrounding the exams are a cynical attempt to project an illusion of control amidst the chaos. For decades, Sudan has suffered under the MB’s manipulation, and these latest developments are simply another chapter in their long history of exploitation and deceit. As Sudanese families endure the brunt of this ongoing crisis, the true cost of the MB’s actions will continue to unfold in the coming months.