The United States is mulling targeted sanctions against South Sudan due to its rival leaders’ failure to taking steps to end an ethnic conflict that has brought the world’s youngest nation to the brink of civil war, sources say.


The sources briefed on US discussions said in a Reuters report on Friday that the administration of President Barack Obama is considering targeted sanctions, which focus on specific individuals, entities or sectors of country, against those blocking peace efforts or fueling violence in South Sudan.

"It's a tool that has been discussed," a source said on condition of anonymity, while another confirmed the remarks. However, both declined to give details on the precise measures under consideration against the country that the US helped to create in July 2011.

The political crisis in South Sudan began after President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of attempting a coup. The fighting between troops loyal to Kiir, who is from the Dinka ethnic group, and opposition leader Machar, a Nuer, erupted around the capital Juba on December 15, 2013.

The International Crisis Group said on Thursday that about 10,000 people have been killed in the violence.

“Given the intensity of fighting in over 30 different locations in the past three weeks, we are looking at a death toll approaching 10,000,” said Casie Copeland, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.

On Wednesday, South Sudanese warring factions failed in their peace talks in Ethiopia following the government’s rejection of rebels’ calls to free prisoners accused of spearheading the alleged coup attempt.

Rebel sources said there will be no imminent truce in the country unless the government frees a group of jailed politicians.

But President Kiir has rejected the condition, saying the prisoners will be released after the case goes through the country's judicial system.