The fourth accused in the trial involving suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on Wednesday accused former Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Paul Nang Majok of undermining the 2018 peace deal by failing to implement key security arrangements outlined in the Agreement.
Testifying on Wednesday during the 99th session, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, the SSPDF deputy chief of defense forces, claimed the Nasir Incident stems from the failure to fully implement the security provisions of deploying Necessary Unified Forces as outlined in Chapter Two of the revitalized peace agreement.
“During my investigation, I would like to direct my blame to Gen. Paul Nang Majok for the following reasons,” he charged. “Failure to comply with the terms of the revitalized peace agreement, as he intended to destroy the peace.”
Gen. Duop accused the former army chief of violating the peace agreement by deploying SSPDF, Agwelek, and Abushok forces to Nasir to replace overstaying troops, rather than implementing the Joint Defense Board’s agreed plan to deploy only 750 members of the Necessary Unified Forces.
“The poor management of security matters, especially the issue of Nasir, could have been handled through Joint Defense Board committees. Provocative military maneuver by sending two military gunships to Malakal in violation of article 2.1.10 of chapter two of security arrangement,” he said.
Gen. Duop, who also serves as SPLA-IO Chief of Staff, accused Gen. Paul Nang of refusing to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with him as the main partner in implementing the security arrangement.
“Refusal to implement the previous Joint Defense Board decision to send Necessary Unified Forces to Nasir and relief overstayed forces of the SSPDF in Nasir,” he said.
He claimed that Gen. Nang lacked trust and confidence, relying instead on what he described as widespread rumors and false information circulated on social media by individuals he called “enemies of peace.”
He said the original plan approved by the Joint Defence Board and the military command under then and current Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Santino Deng Wol was to deploy 750 Necessary Unified Forces to Nasir to replace the overstayed SSPDF troops.
According to the plan, the force was to comprise 325 SSPDF personnel, 325 SPLA-IO personnel, and 100 members from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
Duop said that after Gen. Paul Nang Majok was appointed Chief of Defence Forces in December 2024, he declined to implement the Joint Defence Board’s directive and instead, he allegedly deployed SSPDF personnel, along with Agwelek and Abushok forces, to Nasir.
“During command handing over, the former chief informed his successor to prioritize the urgent relief of overstayed SSPDF forces in Nasir as planned by previous command and the Joint Defense Board, but this advice fell on deaf ears as the then Gen. Paul Nang Major watered down everything he found on his desk,” he said.
Presiding Judge Alala adjourned the case until 24 Friday July, when the court is expected to continue examining the fourth accused, Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, the SPLA-IO Acting Chief of Staff.
Dr. Machar is under house arrest, while the other defendants are being held at National Security Service detention facilities in Juba.
The seven co-accused are 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.
They 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 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers, including commander Gen David Majur Dak, during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025. They also allege that military equipment worth about 58 million US dollars was destroyed or seized.
The defendants deny the charges.
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