A bodyguard to the late Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak told the special court in Juba on Monday that First Vice President Riek Machar personally directed the distribution of four government military tanks to SPLA-IO forces and allied White Army militia groups after the deadly March 2025 attack on the SSPDF garrison in Nasir County.
Sgt. Mayen Kuol Chan, a prosecution witness and survivor of the assault, testified during the court’s 35th session at Freedom Hall. The hearing was conducted by Ajak Mayol Bior from the prosecution team.
As the sixth prosecution witness, Kuol recounted that Machar phoned Gen. David Majur Dak shortly after the attack and ordered the general to abandon the weapons inside their Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Kuol told the court that Machar specified the tanks’ distribution: one to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), and the remaining three to specific Jikany Nuer sub-clans of the White Army militia—Cie-Lang, Cie-Yal, and Cie-Manyiel.
“Machar called David Majur on phone and told him that the military tanks they were in, will be distributed,” Kuol stated. “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.”
The witness said Machar reassured the general and his bodyguards of their safety, promising SPLA-IO officers would escort them to awaiting U.N. helicopters.
Kuol detailed the sequence leading to Majur Dak’s death.
On March 7, 2025, SPLA-IO commander Brig. Gen. Koang Mayom arrived and seized the four tanks for the instructed distribution. Prior to that, Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, accompanied by senior SPLA-IO officers and White Army leader Kang Makana, visited the overrun garrison and demanded Majur Dak 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 testified.
“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.” The general complied, according to the witness.
When two U.N. helicopters finally landed for evacuation, Kuol and the injured Majur Dak emerged from a tank. SPLA-IO officers carried the wounded commander toward one helicopter.
“Majur was injured, so he couldn’t walk. The SPLA-IO officers held his legs and carried him to the helicopter,” Kuol said. “After reaching mid-way, the SPLA-IO officers threw him down and the SPLA-IO soldiers opened fire at us and we got scattered.”
Kuol fled back to the tanks after witnessing the officers shoot and kill Majur Dak. He was later captured by White Army fighters, who demanded a $10,000 ransom 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 recounted.
After negotiations, the sum was reduced to $6,000, which his family paid for his release.
In previous testimony, Kuol described taking shelter inside an APC with fellow soldiers and the wounded commander while calls were made to high-level figures.
One call from Machar was on loudspeaker in Nuer, during which he reportedly said, “Do not fear, I am with the president.”
Discussions centered on surrender and evacuation guarantees, but no firm assurances materialized, and several evacuation efforts collapsed.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session until January 7, when the defense team will cross-examine the witness.
Riek Machar and seven co-accused face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors claim SPLA-IO forces, allied with the White Army, killed 257 SSPDF soldiers—including commander Gen. David Majur Dak—and destroyed or captured military equipment valued at approximately $58 million during the Nasir garrison assault.
