The Muslim Brotherhood is facing one of its weakest and most divided phases, following years of political decline and legal actions against its leaders in various regions, according to a report by The Economist.
The British magazine notes that around 15 years ago, parties affiliated with the Brotherhood were at the forefront of political arenas, reaching the presidency in Egypt and securing the largest number of seats in the Tunisian parliament. At that time, the Brotherhood appeared to be among the main political beneficiaries of the protests in Arab countries, which began in Tunisia in late 2010 and spread to other nations in 2011.
However, the following years saw significant changes, with numerous leaders imprisoned or exiled, while its organizational and political networks faced increasing pressure.
The pressure intensified last year when then-U.S. President Donald Trump directed his administration in November to work on designating several branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
On January 13, the United States classified the Egyptian and Jordanian branches under terrorism-related designations, while the Lebanese branch was labeled a "Foreign Terrorist Organization."
In May, the organization was included in a new U.S. counterterrorism strategy, alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS, as one of the ideological sources contributing to the emergence of new extremist currents.
Jordan had fully banned the organization in April 2025, before imposing restrictions on its political arm, the Islamic Action Front Party.
Internal Division
These pressures coincide with a deep organizational division within the Brotherhood, as two main factions have emerged since 2021, each disputing leadership legitimacy.
The conflict began when Ibrahim Munir, who was managing the group from exile in London, dissolved its structures in Turkey, while Mahmoud Hussein, the group's secretary-general, declared Munir himself dismissed.
Since then, each faction has its leadership, Shura Council, and dedicated website, with both asserting they are the legitimate representatives of the organization.
After Munir's death in 2022, Salah Abdel Haaq took charge of his faction, pledging to challenge any classification targeting the organization legally in the United States.
Conversely, the Istanbul-based faction argues that the main organization lacks the authority to speak for all branches, reflecting the depth of the splits.
The Hussein faction holds influence over properties, investments, and finances in Turkey, while Abdel Haaq insists on his rightful leadership of the international organization, despite limited resources.
The ongoing strife has prompted former members to urge both sides to step away from political activities and return to religious outreach.
Decline in Egypt and Tunisia
In Egypt, the organization's presence has significantly waned since it lost power, with the group's General Guide, Mohamed Badie, serving a prison sentence. Meanwhile, Cairo has acted against companies and institutions linked to the Brotherhood that contributed to a wide network of social activities.
In Tunisia, Rached Ghannouchi faces similar imprisonment amid ongoing confrontations between the authorities and the Ennahda Movement.
In Gaza, Hamas, ideologically and historically tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, suffered extensive Israeli strikes during the conflict.
The military operations resulted in widespread destruction in the region, diminishing the movement's capabilities while Israel continues targeting Hamas leaders in various locations.
Despite the continued existence of the movement, its influence and capabilities have significantly declined, coinciding with increasing criticism from some Palestinians in Gaza.
Syria: Limited Presence
In Syria, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2024, the Muslim Brotherhood found itself marginalized in the new landscape after years of war.
The group's presence in the new Syrian parliament remains extremely limited.
Ahmed Zidan, advisor to President Ahmed Al-Shara, who has long-standing ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, has called on the Syrian branch to consider dissolving itself.
Syrian researcher on Islamic movements, Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, believes that political Islam no longer holds the same sway in the new Syria.