FILE PHOTO: Justice James Alala Deng at the swearing-in of Chief Justice Benjamin Baak, July 22, 2025. Credit: Office of the President

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – A prosecution witness allegedly tied SPLA-IO forces to the White Army during Wednesday’s session of the Nasir treason trial, claiming the two groups shared a station and maintained constant contact as violence erupted in early 2025.

During Session 32, the court recorded the attendance of the prosecution, the defense, and the witnesses. The sixth defendant was absent due to health reasons.

Judge James Alala asked the witness if the SPLM/A-IO forces and the White Army were stationed in the same location. The witness replied that both groups were positioned together within Nasir County and remained in contact. However, he noted that the relationship later deteriorated and communication was cut off.

The judge also asked about an incident involving Major General David Majur. The witness denied being close to the scene or carrying the General to the aircraft, stating that Major General Majur boarded the plane first.

The judge further asked whether the witness was among those who carried Major General David Majur to the aircraft, or whether he boarded the plane with him before or after his commander. The witness denied this, stating that he was not close to the scene of the incident and that Major General Majur boarded the aircraft first.

Regarding security, the witness confirmed that while he was collecting firewood with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), they were ambushed by the White Army. He also testified to hearing mobilization songs, which indicated a buildup of opposition and White Army forces only 500 meters away.

The judge further asked whether the witness had heard mobilizing songs indicating the presence of a buildup of opposition forces and the White Army in Nasir. The witness confirmed this, noting that the distance between them was close, estimated at about 500 meters.

After that, the court concluded the examination of the third prosecution witness and instructed the prosecution to produce the fourth prosecution witness, First Lieutenant Mohamed Ahmed Jadu.

The prosecution representative, Counsellor Petrus Yai, proceeded to examine the fourth witness and asked him to recount what had happened. Witness Mohamed Ahmed Jadu stated that he had been in Nasir County since 2018.

He explained that on 14 February, he went out with others to collect firewood for cooking and that they were attacked by opposition forces at the firewood collection site, resulting, according to his testimony, in the killing of four members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, including the mission commander.

The witness added that on the day following the incident, civilians who had been living near the military garrison left the area. He also said that on 16 February, the White Army held a meeting in Nasir, after which the SPLM/A-IO forces moved with their military equipment.

He noted that Major General David, the Governor of Nasir, explained that civilians had gone to receive food assistance from the United Nations, and that the White Army meeting was to select a new leader, while the opposition forces moved according to his statement to secure the White Army meeting.

The witness said that the youth meeting continued until 23 February, after which opposition forces moved to the Olang area to attack river barges carrying SSPDF soldiers heading to Nasir for troop rotation.

He added that the attacks took place on 26 and 28 March. The witness claimed that Dr Riek Machar made a phone call to the Governor of Nasir.

He further stated that after the fall of Nasir town to the White Army and opposition forces, he withdrew with the force to the army headquarters and remained inside an armoured vehicle with Commander David Majur.

He added that opposition forces and the White Army held a meeting that day, and that Dr Riek Machar called Commander David Majur and asked him to proceed to the opposition headquarters and surrender himself, but Majur refused.

He said that Machar called again and asked him—if he could not go to the opposition headquarters—to go to the Governor of Nasir, but Major General Majur also refused, explaining that he was surrounded by opposition forces and the White Army and could not leave the area.

The witness concluded his testimony by stating that two United Nations aircraft attempted to reach their location but were unable to do so due to the complex security situation. The second attempt was successful, and they boarded the aircraft while carrying their weapons.

The prosecution witness added that the Governor of Nasir arrived at the site and informed Major General David Majur that an aircraft was coming from Malakal to evacuate them from the area.

He explained that when the aircraft landed, opposition forces and the SPLM/A-IO opened a corridor for the soldiers to pass through and board the plane, with the White Army positioned to the north of the corridor and opposition forces to its right.

The witness stated that the soldiers disembarked from the armoured vehicles without weapons, noting that Major General David Majur was being carried on a stretcher due to his injury and inability to walk. He added that members of the SPLM/A-IO and the SSPDF took turns carrying the stretcher.

He told the court that before reaching the aircraft, sudden gunfire erupted, causing those who were carrying Major General Majur from the opposition forces to abandon him and join their forces. The gunfire resulted in the killing of Major General Majur and several of his escorts.

He added that those who remained ran toward the aircraft, and six members of the SSPDF managed to board it, all of whom were injured. One of them, holding the rank of captain, died on board the aircraft before reaching Malakal, and two members of the aircraft crew were also injured. They managed to reach Malakal on 8 March.

The court allowed the prosecution to continue examining the witness. He said he knew about the White Army youth meeting because he was present at the headquarters in Nasir town at the time the meeting was held, explaining that Major General Majur was the one who convened the meeting and briefed them on developments.

When asked by the prosecution how he obtained information about Machar’s phone call, the witness said he received it from military sources, adding that his wife, who is from the Nuer community, also informed him of this information. When asked whether he was present during Machar’s phone call to Major General Majur inside the armoured vehicle, he answered that he was present.

At the conclusion of the session, the prosecution ended its examination of the witness, and the judge decided to adjourn the session until 19 December for the defence to cross-examine the witness.