The third accused, Gatwech Lam Puoch (Photo by courtesy)

In his defence statement on Friday during the 87th session in Juba, the third accused, Gatwech Lam Puoch, told the court that his actions were consistent with efforts to engage local stakeholders and community leaders in order to reduce friction amid growing insecurity in Nasir County.

JUBA — A co-accused in the case against suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar has rejected accusations linking him to the violence in Nasir County, arguing that his involvement was aimed at defusing tensions and promoting peace.

The evidence provided earlier by South African digital forensics expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi stated that Lam shared sensitive military information with individuals associated with the White Army militia.

Calvin indicated that WhatsApp messages retrieved from Lam’s phone demonstrated that he communicated information regarding the activities and manoeuvers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) to individuals connected with the opposition SPLM-IO.

In his defense statement on Friday during the 87th session in Juba, the third accused, Gatwech Lam Puoch, told the court that his actions were consistent with efforts to engage local stakeholders and community leaders in order to reduce friction amid growing insecurity in Nasir County.

“Your Lordships, it was in the discharge of this constitutional obligation that my colleagues and I addressed the issues surrounding the tensions in Nasir and Ulang Counties,” Lam said.

A 67-year-old member of the National Legislative Assembly, representing Nasir County in Upper Nile on an SPLM-IO ticket, stated that the press conference aimed to calmly urge the country’s leadership to allow them to go to their constituents in order to address rumors about supposed disarmament and to assist in reducing tensions.

“We appealed to the leadership of the country to allow Members of Parliament from the affected areas an opportunity to engage with our constituencies to de-escalate the growing tension and correct wild rumours surrounding alleged disarmament,” he said.

Lam stated that the press conference, now used by the prosecution as part of their evidence, was straightforward and peaceful, intended to ease tensions in Nasir County.

“Our intention was not to incite conflict but to prevent one. Regrettably, I now find myself before this Honourable Court designated as the Third Accused on frivolous grounds arising from opinions and views,” he said.

Lam, who served as a lawmaker for 14 years, said he was entrusted by the people of Nasir to represent their interests at the national level, adding that he does not need permission from anyone when addressing issues affecting the county.

“The people of Nasir, to whom I owe my loyalty, have made me who I am in the political arena of South Sudan. I will never betray them nor let them down,” he said.

“I will boldly speak on their behalf as long as I am in Parliament. That is why, when tension arose in Nasir and Ulang counties in February 2025 due to the movement of barges from Malakal to Nasir and rumours of disarmament, we had to move quickly as their representatives in Juba to de-escalate the tension.”

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

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, 40; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puoch, 66; 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.