SPLA-IO Directed White Army Attack on Nasir Garrison, Investigator Says

By Awan Achiek

The lead investigator in the trial of the suspended First Vice President and seven co-defendants presented evidence on Friday, alleging that certain SPLA-IO officers mobilised and commanded a militia group, known as the White Army, to attack a government garrison in Nasir County, Upper Nile.

During cross-examination on Friday, Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani, the lead investigator, claimed the Nasir incident was funded by suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol and commanded by SPLA-IO commanders.

“During the attack on Nasir garrison, the White Army was mobilised by the SPLA-IO officers to attack Nasir garrison,” Gen. Wani said during the 11th session in Juba on Friday.

Wani, who is also the police commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, stated that the evidence gathered from the SSPDF administrative report, witness testimonies, and survivors of the incident indicated that the attack was fully financed by SPLM-IO.

He said that before the attack on the Nasir garrison, the first accused, Puot Kang Chuol, held a press conference in Juba, stating that the forces sent to Nasir were not pure SSPDF forces.

He said Puot Kang claimed the forces comprising the Agwelek and Abushok forces were sent to disarm the White Army and civilian populations.

Wani stated that Puot Kang Chuol sent $30,000 for the logistics and mobilization of the White Army to attack the Nasir military garrison by plane.

“The money was sent twice; the first amount was a small sum meant for rituals, while the second time was about $30,000, which was distributed among 15 Payams, with each receiving $2,000,” Wani said.

He stated that the first attack on the Nasir garrison on March 3 was led by SPLA-IO officer Col. Tor Gille Thon.

He explained that the second attack on March 4 was commanded by White Army leader Kang Makana, with support from some SPLA-IO commanders.

He reported that this incident resulted in the deaths of 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak.

He noted that prior to the Nasir incident, the SPLA-IO had launched several attacks on SSPDF forces, resulting in the deaths of 51 soldiers.

He stated that SSPDF personnel were attacked and killed whenever they went to the market, fetched firewood, or collected water.

He asked the court to pursue charges against 13 accused individuals who are still at large.

He also stated that 75 suspects were released due to a lack of sufficient evidence against them.

During the court’s tenth session, prosecutors presented 14 additional exhibits against the accused before the three-judge panel.

Thirteen of the exhibits were marked and admitted, while the fourteenth was set aside for cross-examination.

Machar’s lawyer, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, objected to the evidence presented by the prosecution team.

Presiding Judge James Alala Deng postponed the session until next week to continue the presentation regarding the involvement of the remaining seven accused in the Nasir incident.

The next session is scheduled for Monday, 20 October.