South Sudan leaders face sanctions

11 July 2014 Last updated at 10:40

The European Union is imposing sanctions on two South Sudanese military leaders accused of obstructing the country's peace process.

They are also responsible for atrocities committed in the last six months, an EU statement said.

Their names are to be published shortly, when the travel ban and asset freeze will come into force.

Thousands of people have died in the fighting that erupted between different factions of South Sudan's ruling party.

More than a million people have fled their homes as a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar escalated into ethnic violence.

'Unacceptable'

"Millions more face the risk of famine. Appalling human rights violations and crimes against humanity have taken place," the Council of the European Union said about the crisis in South Sudan.

Both sides had failed to make any progress in regionally mediated peace talks, it said.

"Commanders and political leaders continue to obstruct the peace process. Perpetrators of gross human rights violations are enjoying impunity," an EU statement said.

It was "unacceptable" that ceasefires signed in January and May continue to be breached, the EU said.

"Two persons responsible for violating the ceasefire agreement will be targeted with a travel ban and a freeze of their assets in the European Union. At the same time, an existing arms embargo against South Sudan will remain in place," the sanctions statement said.

The EU said the rapid resumption of talks leading to a formation of a transitional unity government was the only way for South Sudan, which marked its third anniversary of independence this week, to be spared "further violence and famine".

Nick Westcott, the EU's most senior official for Africa, said the sanctions would apply to those on "both sides" of the conflict, the AFP news agency reports.

"It is clear that arms acquisitions by rebels and government are continuing," the agency quotes Mr Westcott as saying.