Nasir incident case deepens with implication of senior officials

Sun 2026-06-14

Kiir [R] and Machar's forces signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended five years of civil war [File - Sam Mednick/AP] — Kiir [R] and Machar’s forces signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended five years of civil war [File – Sam Mednick/AP]

JUBA — The Nasir incident case has taken a new turn following the implication of senior government officials in connection with the attack, in which 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, were killed and military equipment worth an estimated $58 million destroyed.

Defendants facing serious charges, including treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism, and destruction of property in connection with the 3–4 March 2025 Nasir incident, have reportedly linked a senior government official to the events.

During the 87th session in Juba on Friday, Gatwech Lam Puoch, the third accused in the ongoing trial, accused several prominent allies of President Salva Kiir of contributing to heightened political tensions surrounding the 3-4 March 2025 Nasir incident.

Lam, a lawmaker from Nasir County in Upper Nile State serving in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly under the SPLM-IO ticket, alleged that several senior government officials made inflammatory public statements before a formal investigation had concluded.

He stated that public accusations and political rhetoric from allies of Kiir heightened ethnic and political divisions in the aftermath of the Nasir incident.

Lam made allegations against several individuals, including Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, the former vice president; Gen. Taban Deng Gai, vice president for the infrastructure cluster; and Michael Makuei Lueth, the justice minister.

Others named are Dr. Martin Elias Lomuro, a cabinet minister; Gen. Chol Thon, the defense minister; and Gen. Paul Ngang Majok, the former chief of defense forces.

Furthermore, Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony, Assistant Chief of Mobilization and Disarmament; Ateny Wek Ateny, the Minister of Information; and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Public Service Minister, were also mentioned.

“The political environment surrounding the Nasir incident was further aggravated by ethnic and political sentiment, inflammatory rhetoric, a counter-insurgent narrative, hate speech, and public accusations made by senior government officials before the conduct of any formal investigation,” Lam said.

Lam rejected claims made by an investigation committee and a forensic expert who connected him to a press conference and WhatsApp messages concerning the Nasir incident.

He stated that the actions mentioned by the prosecution were part of his constitutional responsibilities aimed at addressing tensions in the region.

The hearing was postponed until Monday, 15 June, when Gatwech Lam Pouch is expected to continue presenting the defense.

Machar, a key opposition figure and former rebel leader, is among eight accused in the case, which has drawn significant political and public attention.

The accused include Riek Machar Teny, 73; Puot Kang Chuol, 41; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puoch, 67; Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, 53; Camilo Gatmai Kel, 47; Mading Yak Riek, 45; and Dominic Gatgok Riek, 27.

Prosecutors allege that forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defense Forces soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million in an attack on a garrison in Nasir in March 2025.

sudanspost.com