A prosecution witness has testified before a special court in Juba, alleging that opposition leader and suspended First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar was involved in planning the deadly attack on the SSPDF garrison in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
Appearing before the court on Wednesday, First Lieutenant Mohamed Ahmed Jidu, the fourth prosecution witness and a survivor of the March 2025 clashes, told judges that Machar allegedly communicated with leaders of the White Army militia and commanders of the SPLA-IO shortly before the assault.
Lt. Jidu testified that tensions in Nasir had been escalating since mid-February, with SSPDF soldiers repeatedly ambushed while carrying out routine activities such as fishing and collecting firewood.
Lt. jidu said civilians began abandoning areas near the government garrison and moving toward SPLA-IO positions in Mandeng as early as 15 February.
According to the witness, meetings involving the White Army were held in Nasir town on 16 February, followed by the arrival of armed SPLA-IO fighters.
Lt. Jidu further said the then-SSPDF commander in Nasir, Maj. Gen. Majur Dak, sought clarification from local authorities about the growing presence of opposition forces.
The court heard that on 1 March, a joint meeting allegedly involving SPLA-IO, the White Army and local officials led to the appointment of Colonel Tor Gile as the White Army leader.
Lt. Jidu further claimed that on 2 March, Dr. Machar held phone conversations with White Army leaders and SPLA-IO commanders, which he was later told resulted in plans to attack the SSPDF base.
Fighting erupted on 3 March, when the first assault on the garrison was repelled by government forces, killing Tor Gile.
However, a renewed attack the following day, allegedly led by his deputy Kang Makana, overwhelmed the SSPDF position.
Lt. Jidu told the court that he was wounded during the clashes and trapped inside an armoured personnel carrier together with Maj. Gen. Majur Dak.
He said senior SPLA-IO figures later entered the garrison and that Majur Dak received phone calls from Machar urging him to surrender a request the commander reportedly rejected.
Efforts by the United Nations to evacuate the wounded were unsuccessful due to intense gunfire. Maj. Gen. Majur Dak was later killed during the attempted evacuation.
The witness said those trapped survived for days on dry fish and water siphoned from the APC’s radiator before being evacuated to a UN hospital in Malakal and later transferred to Juba.
Another prosecution witness, Captain Joseph Malong Akot, also testified on Wednesday, claiming that White Army fighters and SPLA-IO forces operated jointly in Nasir and were responsible for multiple ambushes on SSPDF soldiers prior to the main attack.
Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused are facing serious charges, including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that the Nasir attack resulted in the deaths of 257 SSPDF soldiers and the destruction of military equipment valued at about $58 million.
The trial is expected to continue on Friday, with defence lawyers set to cross-examine Lt. Jidu.
