FILE: Mr. Puot Kang, suspended minister of Petroleum - Dember 14, 2024. - Credit: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio

The first accused and suspended Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, told the Special Court in Juba on Monday that he was allegedly pressured by national security to denounce Dr. Riek Machar under threat of death in jail, or alternatively, to replace him as leader of the SPLM-IO.

Puot gave this testimony during the court’s 81st session on Monday, May 25, 2026. He detailed a political proposal, conditions of his detention, and stated that the charges against him are linked to his loyalty to Dr. Machar.

Puot stated to the court that on February 1, 2025, he attended a reception following the swearing-in of former Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel. According to the testimony, Bol Mel told him to instruct Nasir elders to stop fighting, though Puot noted there were no clashes in the area at that time.

Puot testified that after the function, he went to Bol Mel’s house, where Bol Mel stated that President Salva Kiir was not happy with Dr. Machar. He claimed he was asked to convince Dr. Machar to step aside until elections are held, while Puot took over leadership of the SPLM-IO, but he stated that he rejected the proposal.

“After the function we went to his [Bol Mel] house where he told me that the President was not happy with Dr, Riek Machar. On that note he asked me if I could talk to Dr. Riek Machar to wait for the election while I [Puot] take over from him [Dr. Riek Machar],” Puot testified to the court.

“My response was that I was not ready for that, and that the agreement the does not allowed such a program. I also added that, the choice of SPLM/A-IO for a leader was none other them Dr. Riek Machar.”

Puot further stated that national security officers pressured him during his detention to denounce Dr. Machar and cooperate with the government.

He testified about an interaction at the detention facility following his meeting with an investigation committee. A man identifying himself as Deng, a National Security officer, approached him with information regarding the First Vice President.

“Five days after my interaction with the investigation committee, one gentleman who identified himself as Deng an officer of National Security came to me at the detention facility to tell me that, Dr. Riek Machar is arrested and that H.E the President said that the implementation of the agreement must go on,” Puot stated.

“He continues and asked me, are you ready to come out and denounce Dr. Riek Machar as chairman of SPLM-IO. I responded by asking him first who sent you, his response was that, he had been sent by the Leadership, and he didn’t mention any name, I informed him that I was not ready to go out and denounced my leader. He said my brother you here going to die in detention, I responded by tell him it was okay, if that was the will of the God.”

He also told the court that on March 6, 2025, while held at a riverside National Security operation site, an officer stated that if anything happened to the late Major General David Majur Dak, Puot might not survive.

According to Puot, the officer told him to “talk to his people” to ensure no harm came to the general. Puot stated that he informed the officer that his phones had been confiscated after his arrest and he had no means of communication.

Puot told the court that the charges against him are tied to his refusal to leave Dr. Machar.

The court adjourned the case until June 1, 2026, to allow Puot to seek medical treatment after he reported feeling unwell during the hearing.