A lead investigator has told a special court in Juba that suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar failed to prevent the execution of surrendered South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldiers after his forces and allied White Army militia captured the Nasir garrison in March this year.
Testifying during the 12th session of the ongoing treason and war crimes trial, Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani, the police commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said Machar personally authorized local teams that mobilized the White Army for the coordinated assault on SSPDF positions in Nasir and Ulang counties, Upper Nile State.
“The First Vice President failed to act despite having intelligence about the planned assaults, he neglected to issue orders to stop the attacks or to protect surrenderedSSPDF troops and UN personnel,” Maj. Gen. Wani told the court.
The court heard that after the White Army militia overran the Nasir garrison on March 7, Machar allegedly persuaded the garrison’s commander, the late Gen. David Majur Dak, to surrender under assurances of safety. But according to investigators, Machar did nothing when the surrendered soldiers were later executed by the attackers.
Maj. Gen. Wani presented a letter dated March 1, 2025, allegedly written by Machar, instructing local officials to form teams to “receive SSPDF barges and safeguard their movement.”
“These very teams later attacked and captured the Nasir garrison, resulting in multiple casualties and the destruction of property,” he said.
During the evacuation efforts coordinated with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Wani testified that Machar advised local commanders to persuade SSPDF officers to abandon their weapons before boarding UN helicopters.
“Once the soldiers were disarmed, white Army fighters seized the weapons and executed the wounded, including Gen. Dak and his bodyguards,” the investigator continued,
The court also heard that communication between SPLA-IO commanders and Machar’s local contacts was conducted through WhatsApp and mobile money transfers, linking the political leadership to field operations.
Although Machar remained silent during Monday’s hearing, prosecutors reminded the court that he has previously denied any involvement in the Nasir and Ulang attacks, insisting those responsible acted without his authorization.
Machar, 75, and seven co-accused including senior military officers and politicians face charges of treason, crimes against humanity, terrorism, and destruction of property. The trial began on September 22, and has drawn widespread public attention due to its potential political implications.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the hearing until Wednesday, October 22, noting that the status of several accused persons still at large remains undetermined.
The March 2025 assault on SSPDF positions in Nasir and Ulang reignited fears of ethnic violence and militia resurgence in Upper Nile State.
Human rights organizations have called for a thorough and transparent judicial process, saying accountability is vital to prevent renewed cycles of revenge and impunity in South Sudan.
