Addressing the Special Court in Juba on Monday during the 126th session, Machar referred to Kaba as the person currently serving as acting chairperson while rejecting allegations that either of them commands the White Army.
“Even the person who is acting as chairperson, Regina Joseph Kaba, is not the commander of the White Army,” the former First Vice President told the Court, where he is defending himself against charges related to the March 2025 Nasir clashes.
Machar’s detention since March 2025 has left the opposition movement grappling with competing claims to leadership between former deputy chairperson Nathaniel Oyet and former secretary general Regina Joseph Kaba.
Kaba was appointed acting chairperson on August 31, 2026, following a high-level command meeting. She replaced Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, who had been serving as acting chairperson and commander-in-chief, although Oyet has maintained that he remains the legitimate acting chair of the SPLM-IO.
Following his removal, Oyet suspended Kaba and seven other senior officials, accusing them of misconduct and undermining the movement’s leadership structures.
Kaba rejected the decision and subsequently issued a counter-order suspending Oyet, setting off a leadership dispute that has divided senior political and military officials within the movement.
Machar’s remarks now affirm Kaba’s position as the acting chairperson.
Continuing his defense statement in court, Machar reiterated that he was not a White Army commander and said he had already presented reasons for his position to the court.
“There are no parallel governments and no two states. Finally, I would re-emphasize that I am not a commander of the so-called White Army, as I have given reasons,” Machar said.
He also denied instructing the late Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak to surrender during the Nasir crisis. Machar said fighting broke out on March 3, 2025, and that after a meeting of the Presidency, he worked to ensure Majur Dak’s peaceful evacuation.
Machar said he would excuse those who made allegations without knowing about his efforts but described statements by people aware of his intervention as politically motivated.
He disputed accounts given by officials during Majur Dak’s burial, including statements about the roles of Gen. Paul Nang, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam and other military commanders. Machar alleged that the two generals who travelled to Malakal had received their orders from Gen. Paul Nang’s office.
Machar also referred to public statements by Gen. James Koang Chuol and Gen. Johnson Olony, saying speeches at Majur Dak’s funeral contained hate speech and amounted to a declaration of war.
In describing earlier violence in Nasir, Machar cited more than 20 reported clashes between armed youths and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) personnel from 2020 to 2025.
He identified clashes on May 11 and 12, 2021, as among the first major confrontations between SSPDF forces and local youths. He said the violence began after a dispute over the sale of an AK-47 rifle at Nasir Town Market.
According to Machar, an SSPDF soldier brought the rifle to the market to sell it, and three local youths expressed interest in buying it. A disagreement followed, during which one of the youths shot the soldier dead, took the rifle and returned to his village.
Machar and seven co-accused face charges including treason, murder, conspiracy, terrorism, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity. They denied the charges.
Prosecutors allege that forces aligned with the SPLM/A-IO and the White Army attacked a government garrison in Nasir, killing 257 soldiers, including Majur Dak, and destroying or seizing military equipment worth about US$58 million.
The court adjourned until Friday, November 6, 2026, for Machar to continue his defense statement.
