US slaps sanctions on two South Sudanese officials

The new round of sanctions came days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would deny visas to individuals who undermine or impede the peace process in South Sudan, rhetoric itself being dismissed by the South Sudanese authorities as obstructing the ongoing peace implementation process.

Washington: US Treasury announced on Monday that it has imposed sanctions on two senior South Sudanese officials for their alleged "obstructing reconciliation efforts."

The Treasury claimed in a statement that it has designated South Sudan's Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro and Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs Kuol Manyang Juuk, whom it said: "have perpetuated the conflict for their enrichment."

Following the designation, all property and interests in property of the blacklisted targets subject to US jurisdiction must be blocked, and US citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, media reported.

The new round of sanctions came days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would deny visas to individuals who undermine or impede the peace process in South Sudan, rhetoric itself being dismissed by the South Sudanese authorities as obstructing the ongoing peace implementation process.

South Sudan had been mired in a civil war since December 2013 between the troops loyal to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. A peace deal signed in 2015 collapsed after renewed violence in July 2016, and the rivals signed a revitalized peace agreement in September 2018.

In November, Kiir and Machar agreed to postpone forming the transitional government for an additional 100 days after failing to resolve their differences mainly on outstanding security issues.