A former bodyguard to the late SSPDF commander Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak testified Wednesday that First Vice President Riek Machar ordered the handover of weapons after Majur refused to surrender to SPLA-IO forces during the March 2025 attack on Nasir garrison.

Sgt. Mayen Kuol Chan, the sixth prosecution witness out of 16 and a survivor of the incident, told the special court at Freedom Hall that Machar spoke by phone with Majur, urging him to surrender after SPLA-IO forces captured the garrison.

Majur, however, repeatedly declined and chose to remain with his SSPDF troops.

During the 36th session, Kuol said that following Majur’s refusal, Machar instructed that the commander’s weapons be turned over to SPLA-IO forces.

“Machar called Majur and told him to surrender to the SPLA-IO forces, and when Majur refused, he said nobody should be allowed to leave military tanks with guns,” Kuol testified.

Kuol recounted being detained by SPLA-IO forces on March 7, 2025, and said his family paid $6,000 to secure his release.

“When we reached Kuergenge, my uncle sent the money. Kuergenge is located in Ethiopia. My uncle sent $6,000 to someone called Gattuong, and he received it in Ethiopian birr,” he said.

After the payment, his family arranged a flight ticket, allowing him to travel from Pagak to Juba.

Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Deng John Deng, Kuol acknowledged that Pagak was under SSPDF control at the time but said he did not identify himself as a soldier.

“Yes, I know it was under SSPDF control, but I did not identify myself as a soldier,” he stated.

Upon arriving at Juba International Airport, Kuol said he was taken to the chief of military intelligence and investigated by a Joint Military Investigation Committee regarding the Nasir incident.

Defense counsel also asked whether Machar’s calls to Majur over three days were meant to facilitate the commander’s evacuation to Juba.

Kuol maintained that the calls were demands for surrender.

On the issue of communication, Kuol said Majur’s phone was functional and used by army leadership to contact him directly, but Machar opted to call using his own phone.

He added that the two men conversed in Nuer, as Majur was fluent in the language.

Proceedings were paused for about 25 minutes after the court ruled that photographic exhibits requested by the defense were unavailable, ordering clerks to retrieve them.

When cross-examination resumed, Kuol disputed identification claims based on photos shown in court, stating, “I do not have broken teeth. The picture did not show me well.”

Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session to Monday, January 12, when the court is expected to rule on the prosecution’s application for witness protection, allowing testimony off-camera.

Machar and seven 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 Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak—and destroyed or seized military equipment worth an estimated $58 million during the Nasir garrison attack.