A South African digital forensic expert on Friday presented new evidence alleging coordination linked to attacks by the White Army on South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) barges ahead of the March 2025 assault on the army garrison in Nasir, during the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused.
Testifying during the 48th session of the special court in Juba, Ratlhogo Peter Calvin submitted video clips, audio recordings and WhatsApp messages extracted from mobile phones belonging to Lawmaker Gatwech Lam Puoch, the third accused, and General Gabriel Duop Lam, the fourth accused.
“I have been informed that the barges have reached Lony and they clashed with the White Army now,” read one WhatsApp message presented to the court.
Peter said the message also requested reinforcement of the White Army to prevent barges carrying SSPDF soldiers from advancing towards Nasir and Ulang counties.
According to military command in Bilpam, the soldiers were being redeployed to Nasir and Ulang to relieve colleagues who had been stationed at the Nasir garrison for between five and 10 years.
“The barges are confronted with challenges. The river has subsided and become shallow. Barges can’t move forward,” read another message shown in court.
The forensic expert also presented a press release dated February 20, 2025, signed by 10 SPLM-IO lawmakers from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States, condemning an alleged assault on civilians in Nasir and Ulang carried out by the SSPDF.
Peter further shared a press statement dated February 25, 2025, signed by 24 members of the SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus from the National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States, criticizing the deployment of SSPDF forces to Nasir and Ulang counties.
“Wec-Yar-Adium [SSPDF garrison] is finally liberated and free from the SSPDF militia,” Gatwech Lam Puoch allegedly wrote in a WhatsApp group message.
Peter also presented a WhatsApp exchange in which General Gabriel Duop Lam, the SPLA-IO chief of staff, allegedly received information from Lieutenant Colonel Marko Juaw regarding the sale of 500 rounds of PKM ammunition.
“The price of each bullet is 350 SSP,” read a message Lieutenant Colonel Marko Juaw allegedly shared with Duop Lam, who is also a deputy army chief of the SSPDF.
Presiding judge James Alala adjourned the session.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday, February 9, 2026, when the foreign expert is expected to complete testimony on his specific findings.
Machar and his co-accused face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army killed 257 SSPDF soldiers — including commander David Majur Dak — and destroyed or seized military equipment valued at about $58 million during the March 2025 attack on the army garrison.