Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The special court trial of the suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused continued on Wednesday with detailed testimony from a prosecution witness. The witness narrated events surrounding the March 2025 incident in Nasir, including alleged financial transfers, cross-border movements, and his subsequent arrest upon arrival in Juba.
The court session resumed in the presence of both the prosecution and defense teams. However, the sixth accused was again absent from the proceedings due to health-related reasons. During the hearing, prosecution lawyer Ajak Mayul led the examination-in-chief of Sergeant Mayen Kuol Chan, a prosecution witness and survivor of the March 2025 Nasir incident.
Sergeant Mayen told the court that 6,000 US dollars was sent to an area known as Kuer-geng in Ethiopia. He stated the funds were received by a man identified as Gattuak through an Ethiopian bank and converted into Ethiopian Birr (ETB).
According to the witness, after receiving the money, Gattuak called his uncle to inform him of the transaction, after which they were instructed to proceed to Pagak. He testified that they did not reach Pagak the same day and instead spent the night in a nearby village.
The following morning, his uncle reportedly received another phone call instructing him to go to the airport to collect travel tickets from a man identified as Mayen Jany.
Sergeant Mayen stated that they waited at the airport until a plane landed and names were called. He said seven people, including himself, were selected to travel to Juba. Upon arrival at Juba International Airport, Sergeant Mayen said his family members were present to receive him.
However, officers from Military Intelligence (MI) approached him and asked if he had come from Nasir. After he confirmed his travel origin, the MI officers asked him to accompany them to their offices.
The witness testified that he informed the officers he was the bodyguard of the late Major General David Majur Dak and a survivor of the March 2025 Nasir incident. He noted that while his family members were allowed to leave, he was detained for further questioning.
Sergeant Mayen further narrated that he was taken to the head of Military Intelligence, where he again identified himself as General Majur Dak’s bodyguard. He was later investigated by what he described as the “Nasir Investigation Committee,” though he could not confirm whether it was a police or military body.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested permission to present a digital exhibit containing a photograph of soldiers carrying the body of the late General David Majur Dak.
Presiding Judge James Alala granted the request, and the court adjourned for 25 minutes to retrieve the flash drive. When the session resumed, the photograph was displayed on a courtroom screen.
Prosecution lawyer Ajak Mayul asked the witness to identify individuals in the image; Sergeant Mayen identified himself and several other soldiers from both the SSPDF and SPLA-IO.
During cross-examination, lead defense lawyer Deng John Deng questioned the witness regarding his identity in the photograph, communications between the late General Majur and Dr. Riek Machar, and the nature of the committee that investigated him.
The witness told the court that General Majur communicated with Dr. Riek Machar in the Nuer language using his own phone. He denied knowing a man identified as Thomas Magok Chol, whom the defense alleged worked in Dr. Machar’s office to facilitate communications.
When questioned about the 6,000 dollars, Sergeant Mayen clarified that he was not present when the money was received and therefore could not provide a receipt. Regarding the number of bodyguards who traveled, the witness testified that ten people traveled in total, including individuals identified as Malong, Mohammed, and Gattuak.
Following re-examination—in which the witness confirmed his proficiency in the Nuer language—the judges posed additional questions. Judge Stephen Simon asked which language was used between Dr. Machar and the late General Majur; the witness replied it was mainly Nuer, while Arabic was used in communications with another individual identified as Mayang.
Presiding Judge James Alala also inquired where the witness had learned Nuer, to which Sergeant Mayen replied he learned it from neighbors from Bentiu while in Nasir.
The court adjourned the session to Monday, January 12, 2026. The judges stated that the next hearing will consider a prosecution application seeking protection for the remaining ten witnesses.
The defense team has opposed the request, arguing that there is no need for witness protection and calling for full transparency in the trial proceedings.
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