Missile strikes hit government buildings in Sudan’s El Daein and Nyala

March 16, 2025 (EL DAEIN) – Local government buildings in two cities in Sudan’s Darfur region were hit by missile strikes on Sunday amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The East Darfur government headquarters in El Daein, used by the RSF for civilian administration, was struck and completely destroyed, eyewitnesses said. A similar attack was carried out at the health insurance headquarters.

Similar missile attacks occurred in Nyala, South Darfur, on Thursday and Saturday, targeting Nyala International Airport, which the RSF had reactivated and was using for military purposes, witnesses said. The Social Security Hotel was also hit.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune they did not see warplanes in the skies above either city.

Both El Daein and Nyala have been the sites of recent meetings between the RSF and its allies to discuss the formation of a parallel government.

The RSF and its allies are expected to base their proposed parallel government in Nyala. They intend to announce the government later this month, having already approved a transitional constitution establishing sovereign, executive, and legislative bodies and regional governments.

An army source told Sudan Tribune that the military had carried out airstrikes on RSF military targets in both Nyala and El Daein.

An RSF commander, however, said the army had used a “ballistic missile” to attack Nyala, claiming that airstrikes were avoided due to the risk of RSF forces shooting down warplanes. He said the strike caused minor damage to the airport runway and damaged the Social Security premises, which the RSF used for some of its operations.

The use of drones by both the army and the RSF has increased in recent months. The latest strikes, if confirmed as guided missile attacks, would mark a new phase in the 23-month-old conflict.