By Yiep Joseph
Dr. Riek Machar told the court he directed chiefs and youth leaders to send armed youth in Nasir back to their villages on March 1, 2025.
Machar, the fifth accused, said the youth left Nasir and Ulang that afternoon, except for members of the Mitnyiel section and a few other residents.
“I told the two commissioners, the chiefs and youth leaders, to tell the youths to go back to their villages in Nasir County on 1st March 2025,” Machar told the court.
He said the two commissioners confirmed the youth’s departure the following day, March 2, 2025.
Machar made the statement while responding to allegations concerning the movement of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops towards the Wich-yar-Adiw garrison in Nasir County.
He said barges were transporting SSPDF soldiers to relieve troops stationed at the garrison. The fifth accused maintained that the barges had not been attacked.
Machar said reception committees comprising members from Nasir and Ulang had been established to receive the incoming soldiers.
He told the court that when the gunboats could not proceed beyond Malual, he held a telephone conference with local commissioners, Upper Nile Governor James Odok, and then-Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Paul Nang Majok.
The discussion focused on alternative arrangements to transport the troops and their supplies to Wec-yar-Adiw, Machar said.
He said he proposed hiring six large boats after the barges failed to continue their journey. According to Machar, Gen. Paul Nang Majok agreed to pay US$60,000 for the boats.
The boats were to be obtained from Burebiey, a border station with Ethiopia, Machar told the court.
However, he said the plan was abandoned after the Ulang commissioner called to inform him that the gunboats and troops had been ordered to return to Malakal.
Machar added that the commissioner and reception committee members had travelled to the location where the gunboats were stuck. The commissioner reportedly met the first commander aboard one of the boats.
He said the operation was cancelled without Gen. Paul Nang Majok informing him.
Machar also denied an allegation attributed to Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel that he had been asked to deploy SPLA-IO forces as a buffer between government troops and the White Army.
He said Bol Mel had never made such a request, disputing the allegation concerning his role in the Nasir crisis.
Machar further rejected claims that he had deceived the United Nations during discussions about Nasir.
He said he had instead asked the UN to extract Gen. David Majur Dak and 26 soldiers from Nasir after local youth captured Wich-yar-Adiw.
Machar maintained that his actions and communications during the period were intended to address the situation.
His statements form part of his response to allegations before the court. The disputed claims remain subject to examination alongside the prosecution’s evidence and other testimony.