By Matik Kueth
In the chaos that engulfed Nasir in March 2025, survival sometimes hinged on more than battlefield strategy; it required quick thinking, family intervention, and a sizable sum of money.
Sgt. Mayen Kuol Chan, a bodyguard to the late SSPDF commander Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak revealed to the special court on Wednesday how his escape from SPLA-IO captivity became a test of negotiation and resourcefulness.
Kuol told the court that after the SPLA-IO captured the garrison, he was detained and faced an uncertain fate.
His family, desperate to secure his release, transferred $6,000 through Ethiopia to a local contact, Gattuong, who facilitated his freedom.
The soldier described navigating a tense landscape where control shifted rapidly.
Even though Pagak was under SSPDF oversight, he avoided identifying himself as a soldier to avoid danger.
Upon arrival in Juba, he was quickly ushered into the chief of military intelligence’s office for investigation by the Joint Military Investigation Committee, marking a stark transition from frontlines to bureaucracy.
The court also heard details of Kuol’s observations about the interactions between Majur and First Vice President Riek Machar.
While Machar allegedly attempted to persuade Majur to surrender, Kuol emphasized that his priority was survival, not taking sides in high-level political maneuvers.
Cross-examination touched on the personal and human side of war: disputed photographs, language barriers, and the stark reality of soldiers relying on families and networks for life-saving support.
“I do not have broken teeth. The picture did not show me well,” Kuol told the court, underlining the disconnect between official records and the human stories behind them.
Kuol’s report also emphasized that the Nasir battle was about survival, bravery, and the quiet diplomacy of families managing the chaos of war, in addition to politics and accusations of murder or treason, as the court gets ready to hear additional testimony.