US sanction efforts 'unfortunate'

The government has described efforts by the United States government to impose targeted sanctions on South Sudan as ‘unfortunate’.

Deputy foreign affairs Minister, Peter Bashir Gbandi said the government remains committed to the peace process and President Salva Kiir is working to ensure a peace deal is signed.

The United States on Wednesday circulated a UN Security Council draft resolution proposing new sanctions on South Sudan if a deal is not signed after a 15 day consultation period granted to the government.

This was after President Kiir declined to sign the IGAD-plus compromise proposal by the August 17th deadline set by the IGAD mediators.