Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, one of the co-accused linked to suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, firmly rejected claims on Wednesday that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) played any part in the March 2025 assault on an SSPDF garrison in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The statement came during the ongoing trial related to the Nasir incident. It directly counters earlier accusations from prosecutors and South African digital forensic expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi. They had claimed that Gen. Duop, as the fourth accused, neglected to alert SSPDF command about an impending strike allegedly involving armed youth and SPLA-IO troops.
Speaking in court, Lt. Gen. Duop Lam — who serves as acting chief of staff for SPLA-IO and also holds the position of SSPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces — categorically denied the allegations. He emphasized that the opposition group neither organized nor carried out the attack on the Wec-yar-Adiu garrison.
“I want to clarify once more that SPLA-IO did not participate in the attack on the Wec-yar-Adiu garrison in Nasir,” Lam stated, addressing the specific charge that he failed to pass on information about armed youth and SPLA-IO involvement.
He explained his position within the military structure, noting that as part of the army’s top command, he routinely receives operational updates from division commanders and intelligence officers alongside the Chief of Defence Forces. This includes reports from the late Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak.
“When it comes to informing SSPDF command about the attack on the garrison in Wec-yar-Adiu, who exactly constitutes that command?” Duop questioned. “There is no distinction — I am part of the same command that gets field reports from our divisional leaders whenever security issues arise.”
The general further stressed that the White Army — local armed youth often described as armed civilians — operates independently and falls outside SPLA-IO’s chain of command. He added that security briefings on the Nasir situation had come through both the late Maj. Gen. Dak and the relevant intelligence officer.
On a separate allegation involving arms procurement on December 10, 2024, Gen. Duop admitted that Lt. Col. Marko had offered to sell him 500 rounds of PKM machine gun ammunition for personal use. However, he said he turned down the proposal, citing prohibitions under the SPLA Act and Section 78 (C) (F) of the SPLA Rules and Regulations, 2009.
He argued that the matters raised by the prosecution and the digital forensic expert had no connection to the Nasir events.
The court adjourned proceedings until August 3, when Lt. Gen. Duop Lam is expected to continue his defense testimony.
The seven defendants — Puot Kang Chuol (40), Mam Pal Dhuor (37), Gatwech Lam Puohc (67), Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam (53), Camilo Gatmai Kel (47), Mading Yak Riek (45), and Dominic Gatgok Riek (27) — face serious charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.
According to prosecutors, SPLA-IO fighters joined forces with the White Army to kill 257 SSPDF soldiers, including their commander Gen. David Majur Dak, in the March 2025 raid. They also claim that military assets valued at approximately $58 million were looted or destroyed. All defendants have pleaded not guilty