RSF drone strikes kill dozens in Sinjah government and military sites

January 12, 2026 (SINJAH) – Dozens of people were killed on Monday after drone strikes targeted government and military sites in Sinjah, the capital of Sennar State in southeastern Sudan.

The governors of White Nile and Sennar, along with the governor of the Blue Nile Region, survived an assassination attempt during an attack on a government guest house where they were holding a meeting regarding border demarcation.

The explosions from the drones targeting the meeting site and the army base in Sinjah sparked panic among residents. Casualty figures remain conflicting, with Sennar State Health Minister Ibrahim al-Awad reporting 27 dead and 73 injured. A military source quoted by Al-Hadath TV placed the toll at 28 dead and 60 wounded at the army headquarters.

Mustafa Tambour, the Governor of Central Darfur, described the strikes on the 17th Infantry Division headquarters as “cowardly and brutal behaviour,” suggesting it reflected the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) state of despair. Speaking to Al Jazeera Mubasher, Tambour confirmed the attack occurred during a high-level meeting of official and military leaders.

Regarding the governors’ safety, Tambour said the information was “extremely sensitive” and that the public should await an official state government statement.

The Sudan Doctors Network reported that 10 civilians were killed and nine were injured by a guided missile from an RSF drone. The network condemned the shelling, stating that targeting civilians outside of military objectives amounts to a war crime.

The White Nile State government announced the deaths of the governor’s guard, Abdel Hadi al-Safi, and protocol officer al-Mahi Hammad Ibrahim. Sources told Sudan Tribune that the strike resulted in several military fatalities among army division leaders.

Sennar State Government Spokesperson Salah Adam Abdallah said a “strategic drone” targeted the city at noon. He noted that while anti-aircraft defences attempted to intercept it, the drone caused significant casualties among civilians.

This attack is the first of its kind since the army regained control of Sinjah in late 2024 during a military campaign that expanded government control over Sennar, Gezira, and Khartoum states.