U.S. says to propose U.N. sanctions regime for South Sudan

By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.S. delegation to the United Nations informed members of the Security Council on Tuesday that it will circulate a draft resolution establishing an international sanctions regime for conflict-torn South Sudan, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

"The resolution will establish a mechanism for targeting individuals undermining South Sudan's political stability and abusing human rights," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"We believe targeted measures are appropriate at this time to support efforts to establish a peace agreement and cessation of hostilities," the official said. He did not say when the draft would be circulated to the 15-nation council and put to a vote.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar must continue to engage in peace talks led by the East African regional bloc IGAD, he added.

"To date, there has been insufficient progress in those talks due, in part, to the political spoilers and human rights abusers whose violent actions have undermined progress," the official said.

"This resolution is a first step in increasing the pressure on all parties and sending a strong message that those most responsible for South Sudan's political and humanitarian crisis will be held accountable," he added.

The United States began imposing bilateral sanctions on South Sudanese individuals in May. The official said that establishing a U.N. sanctions regime would demonstrate the world's resolve in bringing an end to the civil war.

Fighting erupted in December in South Sudan, which declared independence from Sudan in 2011, after months of political tension between Kiir and his sacked deputy and rival, Machar. The conflict has reopened deep fault lines among ethnic groups, pitting Kiir's Dinka against Machar's Nuer.

Peace talks brokered by IGAD have yet to reach a deal. The two sides are due to hold a fresh round of discussions in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, but the start date is uncertain.

A ceasefire signed in January has been broken frequently and peace talks have often stalled, frustrating Western backers of South Sudan. The European Union has also joined the United States in imposing sanctions on commanders on both sides for violating the ceasefire.

The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people in the world's newest state, caused over 1 million to flee and driven the country of 11 million closer to famine.

(Editing by G Crosse and Alan Crosby)

• Politics & Government
• Foreign Policy
• South Sudan
• Riek Machar