South Sudanese rebels loyal to former First Vice President Riek Machar triumphantly announced Monday the capture of Kuek area in northern Upper Nile near the Sudanese border, saying they defeated government troops from the strategic area of Kuek after fierce battles on Sunday.

Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, Military Spokesman of the SPLA-IO faction allied to Machar, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that they captured Kuek area which was under government control for several months.

Gatjiath claimed that clashes erupted after the government troops attacked their positions near Kuek area, adding they seized military equipment from the government forces.

Government officials in Juba could not immediately be reached for comment.

Separately, a rebel group calling itself the National Army of South Sudan announced that its forces took control of a military garrison in Northern Bahr al Ghazal on Sunday.

Brigadier General Deng Maring, spokesman for the group, told Radio Tamazuj that their forces captured the military garrison after attacks on their position by the government forces near the Sudanese border.

Maring claimed that their forces inflicted heavy losses on the government forces and seized military equipment during fighting. He admitted that one soldier was killed and two others sustained injuries from their side. The rebel official noted that the clashes resumed on Monday morning.