Former First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar has denied commanding the White Army, telling the Special Court in Juba that the armed youth group does not operate under his military authority.
Machar made the remarks on Monday while presenting his defence statement during the 124th session of the trial over the March 2025 attack on a military garrison in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
“The White Army is not a standing army, and I cannot command it because it does not have the structures necessary for me to exercise command over it,” Machar told the court, according to Sudans Post.
He also rejected allegations that he leads armed civilians, describing claims linking him to the group as false.
“The charge that I lead armed civilians is false. The charge that armed civilians are only in Nuer areas is also false,” Machar said, as reported by Radio Tamazuj.
The former vice-president described the White Army as a community-based group composed mainly of young civilians who mobilise through traditional leadership structures rather than a formal military chain of command.
“I first want to explain what is referred to as the White Army. The White Army are ordinary civilians, the majority of whom are youths,” he told the court.
Machar further argued that the group lacks formal military facilities and is not registered in the military records of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
“They have no barracks and are not registered in any SPLA-IO document,” he said.
He also denied that the White Army receives military assistance or food supplies from the opposition movement.
“They don’t get any military support from the SPLM-IO, nor do they get food supplies from the SPLA-IO,” Machar told the court, according to Radio Tamazuj.
He said members organise themselves through clans and traditional authorities, including headmen, sub-chiefs and paramount chiefs, and described them as volunteer warriors who select their own leaders.
Machar’s testimony also addressed claims linking the origins of the White Army to the 1991 Nasir Declaration, which marked a major split within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).
He acknowledged his role in the Nasir Declaration but disputed allegations that this meant he established or commanded the White Army.
The prosecution, however, alleges that SPLA-IO forces operating alongside the White Army took part in the March 2025 attack on the Nasir military garrison, in which government soldiers, including Major General David Majur Dak, were killed.
Machar and seven co-accused face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity. The allegations remain before the court.
The court adjourned the 124th session until Wednesday, October 28, 2026, when Machar is expected to continue his defence testimony.
