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UN Again Threatens South Sudan Leaders With Sanctions


FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, shakes hands with rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar after signing an agreement to reunify their political party in Arusha, Tanzania, Jan. 21, 2015.
FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, shakes hands with rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar after signing an agreement to reunify their political party in Arusha, Tanzania, Jan. 21, 2015.

The U.N. Security Council has expressed "profound disappointment'' about the failure of South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar to finalize a peace deal.

A council statement issued Tuesday again threatened sanctions against "senior individuals'' whom it deemed "responsible for actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan.''

Fighting in the oil-rich East African country has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 2 million people.

The Security Council has been considering sanctions for almost a year. Earlier this month, it established a sanctions regime for South Sudan but stopped short of imposing travel bans and asset freezes on officials, or creating an arms embargo.

The United States and European Union already have imposed sanctions on commanders from both sides.

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