JUBA – The second prosecution witness in the high-profile trial of eight SPLM/A-IO officials testified on Friday that UNMISS evacuation team requested First Vice President Riek Machar to dispatch Interior Minister Angelina Teny to Nasir to help ensure the safe evacuation of Gen. David Majur and his besieged soldiers.
During the 30th session of the trial, the prosecution presented its second witness after judges completed the cross-examination of the first. The session opened with the bench questioning Maj. Peter Malual Deng about his investigative work—including why his team did not visit Nasir. Malual responded that traveling to Nasir was impossible at the time because the area was an active war zone.
The court then heard from Brigadier General Santino Akot Abim, the SSPDF Director for Operations and Humanitarian Affairs, who oversaw the attempted evacuation of 55 soldiers trapped alongside Gen. Majur.
Gen. Akot said the evacuation team did not fully trust local authorities in Nasir to guarantee the mission’s safety. For that reason, he said, the team asked First Vice President Machar to send Interior Minister Angelina Teny with them to help ease tensions. However, according to Akot, Machar informed them that Angelina Teny was not permitted to travel to Nasir.
Akot further testified that Machar had assured the team that the White Army would remain 300 to 500 meters away from the designated landing site. The Nasir County Commissioner reportedly confirmed receiving such a directive from Machar. Despite this, Akot said that when the evacuation team arrived in Nasir, they found the area crowded with armed men.
After the prosecution completed its second witness testimony, judges invited the defense to begin cross-examination. The defense requested an adjournment to prepare and consult with their clients.
The court postponed the session to Monday, 15 December 2025.
