The second accused in the high-profile trial linked to suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar told the special court on Friday that the White Army operates as an independent community-based militia and is not affiliated with any political party, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The statement comes amid prosecution allegations that the White Army was influenced by the SPLM-IO, led by Machar, during attacks on an army garrison in Nasir County on March 3-4, 2025, that left government forces with heavy casualties.
During the 87th session of the trial, Mam Pal Dhuor told judges that the White Army, composed of armed Nuer youth, operates to defend local community interests rather than under directives from any political organization.
His testimony followed a question from Presiding Judge James Alala Deng, who noted that Mam had referred to “armed youth” in his statement and sought clarification on whether the term referred to the White Army.
Mam said “armed youth” referred to any individual carrying a weapon and residing in his home area.
“No one is responsible for them, and they do whatever they want without being ordered by any person to do so,” he told the court.
Deng also asked whether Mam had provided financial support to the armed youth, as alleged by prosecutors and a prosecution expert witness.
Mam rejected the allegations and dismissed the witness testimony as untrue.
“The documents presented in court have no connection to the Nasir incident,” he said, adding that he had never supported the armed youth.
Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa, a member of the three-judge panel, asked Mam whether he knew where the digital forensic expert had obtained messages, videos, audio recordings and photographs presented as evidence.
Mam said he did not know the source of the materials and denied seeing, receiving or responding to the messages allegedly extracted from his phone.
“This is why there were contradictions in the reports presented before this Honourable Court concerning the first and second accused,” he said.
“For example, in the conversation between me and William Deng, the expert alleged that an amount of $1,500 was sent by Puot Kang Chol to people in Ulang.”
The court adjourned proceedings until Monday, June 15, when it is expected to continue hearing the defence of the third accused, Gatwech Lam Puoch, after Mam concluded his defence statement.
Mam is among eight defendants facing charges including treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism and destruction of property in connection with the March 2025 attack on a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) base in Nasir.
The other defendants are Machar, Puot Kang Chuol, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
Machar remains under house arrest, while the remaining defendants are being held by the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces, allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during the attack.
The defendants have denied the charges.
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