“I Worked to Stop Bloodshed in Nasir,” Puot Kang Tells Special Court in Ongoing Treason Trial

Suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol has told a Special Court in Juba that his contacts with armed youth in Nasir County in March 2025 were aimed at preventing violence rather than encouraging attacks on the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). WATCH VIDEO OF HIM SPEAKING TO THE PRESS.

Testifying during his defence on Wednesday, Kang said he made efforts to de-escalate tensions in the lead-up to the deadly confrontation, insisting that his role was purely mediation-focused.

He told the court that he urged White Army leader Kang Makana not to launch an attack on the SSPDF garrison, arguing that the matter would be addressed through intervention at the highest level of government.

“I worked to ensure that there was no bloodshed,” Kang told the court, maintaining that his communications were intended to calm the situation and prevent conflict from erupting in Nasir.

According to his testimony, Kang also reached out to local authorities, including chiefs, youth leaders, and the Nasir County commissioner, in an attempt to prevent violence and encourage dialogue between the opposing sides.