A bodyguard to the late Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak testified in the special court on Monday that First Vice President Riek Machar instructed the distribution of four government military tanks to his own SPLA-IO forces and allied militia following the deadly attack on the SSPDF garrison in Nasir County in March 2025.
Sgt. Mayen Kuol Chan, a prosecution witness and survivor of the attack, gave his account before the court’s 35th session at Freedom Hall in Juba. The proceeding was led by Ajak Mayol Bior, a member of the prosecution team.
Kuol, the sixth prosecution witness, stated that Machar called Gen. David Majur Dak by phone after the attack and instructed him to leave his weapons in Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs).
According to the testimony, Machar said the four tanks would be distributed to his Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and to factions of the White Army militia, specifically naming sub-clans of the Jikany Nuer community.
“Machar called David Majur on phone and told him that the military tanks they were in, will be distributed,” Kuol told the court. “He said one will be given to the SPLA-IO, second will be given to the sub-clan of Cie-Lang, third to the sub-clan of Cie-Yal and fourth to the sub-clan of Cie-Manyiel.”
Kuol testified that Machar assured Gen. David Majur of his safety and that of his bodyguards, promising they would be escorted to U.N. helicopters by SPLA-IO officers.
The witness described a series of events leading to the general’s death. He said that on March 7, 2025, SPLA-IO commander Brig. Gen. Koang Mayom arrived and took possession of the four tanks for distribution as outlined.
Earlier, Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, along with senior SPLA-IO officers and White Army leader Kang Makana, visited the captured garrison and instructed David Majur Dak to surrender his weapons.
“Nasir County Commissioner told Majur that if the helicopters arrived, the commander of the SPLA-IO will escort them to the plane,” Kuol stated. “The commissioner left and after a while, Brig. Koang Mayom came to us and ordered Majur to hand over his pistol and long-range radio to him.”
Kuol said the general complied. When two U.N. helicopters later arrived for evacuation, he and the injured Majur Dak exited a military tank. SPLA-IO officers then carried the wounded general toward a helicopter.
“Majur was injured, so he couldn’t walk. The SPLA-IO officers held his legs and carried him to the helicopter,” Kuol testified. “After reaching mid-way, the SPLA-IO officers thrown him down and the SPLA-IO soldiers opened fire at us and we got scattered.”
Kuol said he ran back to the military tanks after the SPLA-IO officers shot and killed Majur Dak. He was later captured by White Army fighters, who he said demanded a $10,000 ransom for his release from his family.
“They told my uncle on phone that they need $10,000 to release me and my uncle told them that the amount was too much and that he can’t afford,” Kuol said. He testified that after negotiation, the ransom was lowered to $6,000, which his family paid to secure his freedom.
In earlier testimony, Kuol described sheltering inside an APC with other soldiers, including the wounded commander, as phone calls were made to senior figures. He said one call from Machar was placed on loudspeaker in the Nuer language.
“He said, ‘Do not fear, I am with the president,’” Mayen testified. He said discussions focused on surrender and evacuation guarantees but that no clear assurances were given and multiple evacuation attempts failed.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session until Jan. 7, when the witness will face cross-examination by the defense team.
Machar and seven co-accused face multiple 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 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers, including Commander Gen. David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth an estimated $58 million during the Nasir garrison attack.