Sinja, Sudan – Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly killed 27 people in a drone strike on an army base in the southeastern city of Sinja, a military source told Al Jazeera. The attack comes as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) prepare to return to the capital, Khartoum, nearly three years after relocating their base to Port Sudan amid the ongoing civil war.

Details of the Drone Attack

The RSF strike targeted leaders within the Sudanese military, as well as accompanying security personnel and civilians, according to a military source speaking on condition of anonymity.

• Casualties: 27 confirmed dead; estimates of wounded range from 13 to 73, depending on sources.
• High-profile presence: Sudan’s White Nile state governor, Qamar al-Din Fadl al-Mawla, was in Sinja at the time but survived. Two colleagues were reportedly killed.
• Target: The SAF’s 17th Infantry Division headquarters in Sinja, a strategic location along the main route to Khartoum (~300 km north).

RSF adviser Al-Basha Tibiq said the drone strike was intended as a warning to Sudanese military leaders. Meanwhile, SAF and local officials claim that the attack was partially repelled by anti-aircraft defenses, though civilian casualties occurred.

Context: Sudan’s Civil War

The RSF and SAF have been engaged in a brutal civil war since April 2023, with Khartoum State at the center of the conflict. In the early days of the war, RSF forces seized Khartoum, forcing the army-aligned government to relocate to Port Sudan. The government has been gradually returning as military operations have regained territory.

• Recent SAF operations: The SAF conducted air and ground campaigns in the Kordofan and Darfur regions, reportedly killing hundreds of RSF fighters and reclaiming territory.
• Government return: Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced the gradual return of government forces to Khartoum, which had been recaptured in May 2025.

Despite Sinja’s strategic importance, the city has largely avoided intense fighting until now. Drone attacks in the region have occurred before, including in October 2025.

Humanitarian Impact

The ongoing conflict has devastated Sudan’s population:

• Over 21 million people, nearly 45% of the population, face starvation.
• More than 13.6 million have been displaced, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis, according to the UN.
• The war has now surpassed 1,000 days, with no resolution in sight.

The use of drones in the conflict highlights a shift toward modernized paramilitary tactics, with the RSF employing unmanned systems to target military and civilian positions alike.

Strategic Implications

The attack signals a renewed escalation as the SAF moves to reclaim the capital and consolidate control in eastern Sudan. Analysts warn that drone strikes on key military infrastructure could prolong the conflict, worsen civilian casualties, and further strain humanitarian efforts.