28/10/2026
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐌 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐇.𝐄. 𝐃𝐑. 𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐊 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐌/𝐀—𝐈𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐒
Juba, October 28, 2026 — The SPLM-IG-established sham court, known as the Special Court on the Incident of Nasir, held its 125th session this morning at its usual venue, Freedom Hall. The tribunal specifically targets eight leaders and members of the SPLM/A-IO, including H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, principal signatory to the R-ARCSS, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Chairperson of the Governance Cluster, and Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO.
During today’s session, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon resumed his testimony where he left off in previous sessions as the fifth accused in this politically and tribally motivated trial.
𝐇.𝐄. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐢𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐲-𝐃𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Dr. Machar detailed the interaction between key contact points regarding peace implementation following the appointment of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel as Vice President, while referencing prior communications submitted to the court.
“On February 12, 2025, Hon. Puot Kang attended the reception of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel following his swearing-in as Vice President and Chairperson for the Economic Cluster. Dr. Benjamin, in his capacity as Special Envoy, was a contact person for the President, while Hon. Puot Kang was my contact person. Both of them served as contact points on matters concerning the implementation of the peace agreement. They would arrange our meetings with the President whenever we needed to discuss peace implementation issues before the Presidency could convene. Hon. Puot Kang mentioned this in his presentation of the statement concerning what transpired during the reception. However, he did not mention that he urged Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel to contribute to efforts to stop the fighting that had erupted in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria states between the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO on February 1, 2025. This was detailed in my letter dated February 27, 2025, addressed to the President, which was presented before this Honourable Court as a prosecution document.”
Dr. Machar countered assertions regarding the scope of the violence and clarified geographical distinctions between Nasir and Western Bahr el Ghazal/Western Equatoria.
“Firstly, I thought that the fighting in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria states constituted mere violations, but it was actually the beginning of the declaration of a resumption of war, as Your Lordships have heard in the statement of Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam. This was also mentioned in Dr. Benjamin’s first speech during the reception, in response to the statement made by Hon. Puot Kang Chol. He said: “‘I want you to talk to your own community and tell them not to fight, just as a brother would talk to the people in Nasir and ask them to stop fighting. This is a request based on our personal friendship; take it or leave it, as you wish. You too, Puot Kang, should tell your elder in the system, Dr. [name unclear], that the time has come for peace so that we can work together, and I will do the same.’”
“Your Lordships, Nasir is in the east, Western Bahr el Ghazal is in the north, and Western Equatoria is in the southwest. There is no common border between these places. Indeed, Puot Kang made his move, and at that time, there was no fighting in Nasir.”
The First Vice President highlighted internal division within the government delegation regarding the negotiation process of Tumaini in Nairobi and attempts to supplant existing peace structures.
“Secondly, the Government delegation had returned from Nairobi jubilant and victorious following negotiations with the holdout groups. They were jubilant because they had developed a plan to replace the R-ARCSS with the Tumaini Consensus. The Tumaini Consensus was not merely intended to replace the R-ARCSS; it also sought to establish structures that would undermine the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of South Sudan. Hon. Puot Kang was the deputy head of the Government peace delegation. Although there was a sense of jubilation, differences existed within the delegation. Hon. Michael Makuei and Dr. Akol Kurdit supported the Tumaini Consensus for reasons that we did not understand.”
Dr. Machar addressed early 2025 developments regarding UPDF movements into South Sudan territory.
“Your Lordships,
During January and the first twelve days of February, many events took place. In early 2025, the UPDF entered South Sudan. However, there were rumours that Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel was behind their arrival, while the rest of us did not know the purpose of their deployment at that time. I will address this matter later, after I have finished discussing the events specifically related to Nasir.”
The testimony outlined systemic political changes, including the 24-month extension of the peace agreement, security sector promotions, and shifts in executive power dynamics.
“Your Lordships,
The first event was that the parties to the R-ARCSS agreed to extend its implementation period by 24 months, from February 22, 2025, to February 22, 2027, for the purpose of completing the outstanding tasks under the agreement before proceeding to general elections.
The fifth event during that period was that the President carried out significant reshuffles within the SPLM-IG, both in the party and in the Government. These changes culminated in the appointment of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel as Vice President. He was also promoted to the rank of full General in the National Security Service, enabling him to exercise control over the security sector. Many people believed that the heir apparent had now been appointed, and Dr. Benjamin began to conduct himself accordingly.
I am making this point because the allegations against me that I am about to discuss could only have been made by someone senior to me in the Government. There are clear indications of this in the statement he made on February 12, 2025, during his reception. One such indication was mentioned by Hon. Puot Kang when he recounted what the President had told him concerning my replacement as Vice President. This was merely the tip of the iceberg; the broader objective was to abrogate the R-ARCSS, which has since been done.”
Responding directly to accusations of issuing operational orders to forces in Nasir, Dr. Machar provided a timeline of youth departures and committee formations.
“Your Lordships,
There are many allegations made against me. I have already mentioned two of them, and I will now proceed to the third allegation, which is quoted below.
Allegation 3: Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel also said, ‘Immediately after Riek Machar discovered that the boats were unable to reach Nasir, he gave orders to Tor.’
I did not know the nature of the orders that I allegedly gave to Tor Gile. What I knew was that barges were brought to transport SSPDF soldiers to relieve the SSPDF soldiers at the Nasir Garrison in Wich-Yar-Adiu. Your Lordships, when I composed the two reception committees before the boats got stuck, I instructed the two commissioners of Nasir and Ulang, the chiefs, and the youth leaders to tell the youth to return to their villages once the committees were formed. In Nasir County, Cieng Yol, Cieng Thiep, Cieng Wang, Cieng Kuek, Gaat-Guang, and Cieng Nyathol left Nasir for their villages on March 1, 2025—the day I formed the committee as per the letter the prosecution presented before the court. It was only Cieng Mitnyel and a few members of Cieng Nyathol who resided in town who remained. The youth left Nasir and Ulang on the afternoon of March 1, 2025. This was also confirmed to me by the two commissioners the following day, March 2, 2025.
“Your Lordships,
It is important to mention that when the gunboats could not move farther than Malual, which is a junction, I held a phone conference with the two commissioners, Governor James Odhok Oyai of Upper Nile State, and Gen. Paul Nang Majok, the CDF of the SSPDF at the time, to agree on what should be done. I proposed to Gen. Paul Nang Majok that we hire six (6) large boats to transport the SSPDF forces and their logistics to Wich-Yar-Adiw. Gen. Paul Nang Majok agreed to pay $60,000 USD to hire the boats. The boats were acquired from a place called Bora Abyei near the Ethiopian border. However, before the end of the day, the Commissioner of Ulang called to inform me that the gunboats and the forces had been ordered to return to Malakal. The Commissioner of Ulang and the members of the committee had traveled to where the gunboats got stuck, where the Commissioner met the force commander. The mission was called off without me being informed by Gen. Paul Nang Majok, the CDF.”
Dr. Machar denied receiving requests from Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel regarding the deployment of SPLA (IO) forces as a buffer zone in 2025, recounting an earlier 2024 intervention instead.
“Your Lordships,
Allegation 4: Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel alleged that: ‘I requested H. E. Riek Machar that if the White Army was not part of the SPLA (IO), let the SPLA (IO) act as a buffer zone between our forces and the White Army. He dodged (Riek Machar) the request.’
Your Lordships, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel made no such request to me. What I recall is that during the first term of Gen. Santino Deng Wol, when the SSPDF clashed with local youth in Nasir on February 10–12, 2024—in fighting that lasted for three days—the SPLA (IO) was deployed and established a buffer zone in Nasir town. At that time, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel was serving as Special Envoy to the President. Later, when relations between the SSPDF and the youth improved, the SPLA (IO) withdrew to their bases and cantonment sites. I will discuss this incident in greater detail later. It was also addressed by Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam in his presentation. It was not H.E. Dr. Bol Mel who requested the deployment of the SPLA (IO) in 2025.”
The testimony established that direct communication between Dr. Machar and Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel had ceased after early March 2025.
“Allegation 5: Dr. Benjamin Bol said: ‘He (Riek Machar) claimed that the White Army was fighting to retrieve the body of Sultan Tor Gile Thoan from the trenches of the SSPDF garrison.’
This is not true because Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel avoided speaking to me from March 4, 2025 onward. However, I continued to send him messages, either through the Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Hon. Garang Tong Akeen, or whenever Gen. Paul Nang Majok called me and added Dr. Benjamin Bol on silent mode during our phone conference so that he could listen to our conversation. Dr. Benjamin Bol avoided all contact with me after March 4, 2025. In short, from March 4, 2025 onward, there was no contact between us because he was avoiding it.”
Dr. Machar denied participating in joint proposals with the UN regarding force evacuations and clarified past Joint Defense Board (JDB) proposals.
“Assertion 6: Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel’s assertion that ‘…first, when tensions were high in Nasir, I (Dr. Benjamin Bol) and CDF proposed to the UN that if situation in Nasir threatened to return us to war, they should evacuate our forces and cede the area to the White Army and SPLA (IO). We discussed this extensively until Riek Machar was cornered.’
Your Lordships, first, there was never any joint meeting between me, the CDF, and the UN. Second, I never heard of such a proposal. What I do know is that after the events of February 10–12, 2024, the Joint Defense Board (JDB) dispatched a delegation to Nasir and subsequently decisioned to propose the deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF)—a neutral force composed of all partners. That proposal was rejected by Gen. Paul Nang Majok (the CDF), the President, Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, and the Minister of Defence at the time. Therefore, the allegation made by Dr. Bol Mel is false.”
Addressing claims of deceiving international bodies, Dr. Machar cited his historical relationship with the United Nations and documented specific extraction requests.
“Allegation 7: Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel made another allegation that: ‘Riek even deceived the UN; had the American Ambassador been present, he would have confirmed this. The US and German Ambassadors met with me, and I told them what I told the UN.’
I was not present in the meeting with the US and German Ambassadors, though both were regularly in my office, particularly when the Nasir incident occurred. My Lordships, I was the one who asked the UN to extract Gen. David Majur Dak and twenty-six (26) soldiers from Nasir after the youth captured Wich-Yar-Adiu. I will detail this event when my opportunity to address the Nasir Incident comes. However, I must emphasize that I have never deceived the UN—not since the UN came to South Sudan, nor when Sudan was still unified. My contact with UN agencies dates back to 1985, when I was an SPLA Field Commander and the Zonal Commander of Western Upper Nile.”
In his concluding statement today, Dr. Machar emphasized that proposed military force relocations violated established provisions under R-ARCSS structures.
“Your Lordships,
Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel stated that he proposed: ‘…all SPLA (IO) forces must be relocated—those in Greater Upper Nile region to Malakal; those in Greater Equatoria to Owiny-Ki-bul; and those in Greater Bahr el Ghazal to Mapel…’
I would like to note that this proposal was contrary to the provisions of the R-ARCSS—though he did not discuss it with me—because such a proposal would need to be deliberated by four structures under the agreement: specifically, the JMCC, JTSC, JDB, and finally the NTC, which was headed by Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk. This is the body tasked with discussing such matters, and if they agree, the logistical ex*****on is worked out by them. The National Transitional Committee (NTC) is aware of the designated training centers. In the first phase, there were centers for the military—Owiny-Ki-Bul, Morta (established by the late Gen. Joseph Lagu), Gorom, Maridi, Mapel, Pantiet, Muom, Alel, and Panyier. For the Police, Civil Defence, Prisons Service, and Wildlife, the centers were Rejaf, Lologo, Rambur, Masna Birra, Pakur, and Dolieb Hill. For the National Security Service, there was Gut Makur. In total, there were sixteen (16) training centers.”
𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
The sham court was adjourned until Monday, November 2, 2026, when H.E. Dr. Riek Machar is expected to resume his defense testimony regarding the fabricated charges manufactured against him by the regime.
𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐮𝐨𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧. 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐢 𝐊𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The third accused—Member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) representing Nasir County on the SPLM-IO ticket—Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch and the sixth accused, Brigadier General Camilo Gatmai Kel, both missed today’s session due to illness. We wish them a speedy recovery, along with good health for all SPLM/A-IO detainees across the country.
The SPLM/A-IO continues to vigorously reject the so-called "Special Court on the Incident of Nasir," viewing it as nothing more than an instrument to settle political scores by targeting H.E. Dr. Riek Machar and the SPLM/A-IO through a deliberate political witch-hunt. The movement reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar and all SPLM/A-IO detainees.
𝑪𝒅𝒆. 𝑷𝒖𝒐𝒌 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒈
