South Sudanese rebels loyal to former First Vice President Riek Machar said they have captured Gabat and Khor areas in Upper Nile from government forces after fighting on Monday morning.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Col. William Gatjiath Deng, military spokesman of the SPLA-IO faction allied to Machar, claimed that they captured Gabat and Khor areas during clashes with the government forces.

He pointed out that the government forces launched attacks on their positions in the area, prompting their forces to fight back and capture the two areas.

He said yesterday. “Today morning, the government forces came and attacked our forces in Kuek, but we repulsed them and we captured Gabat and Khor areas around 7:30 am,” said Gatjiath.

The government, however, said it was in full control of Gabat and Khor areas.

Santo Domic, deputy spokesman of the SPLA in Juba, confirmed that there were skirmishes with the SPLA-IO fighters in the two areas on Monday morning, but they were repulsed.

“The rebels came and attacked our areas in Gabat around 7:00 am, because they wanted to disrupt the national dialogue. The fighting in Gabat lasted for 17 minutes only, it was a provocative attack, we are still controlling the area,” said Santo.

File photo: SPLA soldiers in Upper Nile (Radio Tamazuj)