US designates Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organisation

January 13, 2026 / 8:47 PM

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Sharjah 24 – AFP: The United States has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organisations, fulfilling longstanding requests from Arab allies and US conservative groups.

US statement on the designations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters' violence and destabilization wherever it occurs. The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.”

Background and Trump administration action

The move follows a process initiated by President Donald Trump in November against the pan-Islamist movement, which was founded in Egypt in 1928 and has since spread across the Arab world. The Egyptian and Jordanian chapters were specifically targeted due to their support for Hamas, a Palestinian armed group long classified as terrorist by the United States.

Historical context in Egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood previously rose to power in Egypt through the democratic election of Mohamed Morsi, who was later deposed in 2013 by then-military chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Since then, Egypt has carried out a widespread crackdown against the organization.

Regional support for the move

Egypt, along with US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has consistently sought to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood, viewing it as a destabilizing force across the region.