South Sudan soldier tells court how rebel forces killed commander

JUBA – A bodyguard to a late South Sudanese general testified in court on Wednesday about his narrow escape during a deadly assault on the Nasir garrison in March 2025.

Mayen Kuol Chan, who served as a special bodyguard to Major General David Majur Dak of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF), told the court’s 36th session that the commander was killed during an attempted evacuation by helicopter.

The witness said that when two United Nations helicopters arrived at the garrison on March 7, he and the general left their military tanks and were escorted toward the aircraft by SPLA-IO officers.

“The SPLA-IO officers lifted Majur and took him to the helicopter, but halfway there, they dropped him and immediately SPLA-IO forces opened fire, resulting in Majur’s immediate death,” Chan told the court.

Chan said that in the ensuing chaos, he returned to a military tank before being captured by the “White Army” militia. He testified that he was eventually released after his family paid a $6,000 ransom to his captors in Ethiopia.

“When we arrived in Kuergeng, my uncle sent the money. Kuergeng is in Ethiopia. My uncle sent $6,000 to Gattuong, and Gattuong received it in Ethiopian Birr,” he said.

The witness explained that after the payment was received, he was taken to Pagak to be flown back to the capital.

“After receiving the money, he (Gattuong) informed my uncle that we would be heading to the airport. My uncle also told him that he was at the airport where he booked a flight ticket for a plane going to Pagak,” Chan said.

“We went to the airport together with him (Gattuong) and waited for the plane, and when the plane arrived, they started calling the names of seven people who had booked flights, including me,” he added.

Upon arriving at Juba International Airport, Chan said he was taken to the Chief of Military Intelligence for questioning by the Joint Military Investigation Committee regarding the Nasir incident.

Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the proceedings until Jan. 12. The court is then expected to rule on a prosecution request to allow a protected witness to testify in-camera.