The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on six generals accused of fuelling conflict in South Sudan.

The generals, three from each side of the conflict, will face global travel bans and asset freezes.

On Monday, a UN report alleged that government troops had gang-raped and burned alive women and girls in the oil-rich Unity State, during an offensive against rebel forces.

South Sudan, the world’s newest state, has been hit by conflict since 2013.

Among those targeted by the sanctions is the commander of President Salva Kiir special guard, Maj-Gen Marial Chanuong Yol Mangok.

On the rebel side, they include Maj-Gen Simon Gatwech Dual, chief of general staff for the opposition forces and a key ally of rebel leader Riek Machar.

‘Self-interest’

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the Security Council had demonstrated that those who committed atrocities and undermined peace would face consequences.

“South Sudan’s political leadership has squandered the international goodwill that accompanied its independence and pursued political and economic self-interest that has produced only violence, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people,” she added.

The conflict has dashed the high hopes at South Sudan’s independence

A UN report released on Monday described horrific violence in the latest fighting in Unity State.

It quoted witnesses as saying that the army had gang-raped girls and burnt them alive in huts.

Analysis: James Copnall, BBC South Sudan expert

The six generals are fairly well known in South Sudan, but are certainly not famous internationally. In some cases, they are fighting men who have hardly ever left their country.

Rebel and government supporters insist these men do not have foreign bank accounts, or plans to travel abroad. If this is the case, what’s the point of sanctions?

The decision was probably taken for two reasons: To punish men considered responsible for some of the worst crimes of a particularly bloody war, and to put pressure on their bosses.

The message to Mr Kiir and Mr Riek Machar is this: Hurry up, sign a peace deal – or you could be next.

Not everyone is convinced this will work: The International Crisis Group think-tank has already warned the sanctions risk compromising the peace process.

South Sudan will be marking four years of independence next week after it seceded from Sudan.

At least two million people have been left homeless by the conflict which erupted in December 2013 after Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar, his sacked deputy, of plotting a coup.

Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then formed a rebel army to fight the government.

Various efforts to mediate an end to the conflict have failed.

Earlier this month, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in the country, Toby Lanzer, was expelled by the government.

Reports say he was kicked out for highlighting the plight of those caught up in the conflict.

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Kampala-The Chief Magistrate’s court in Mengo has granted an interim order restraining the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) from continuing with analogue to digital transmission. Private citizen Enoth Mugabi went to court challenging the manner in which digital migration is being carried out by UCC. The plaintiff filed a main suit challenging the process and also asked court to stop UCC from proceeding with the digital migration process until the matter before court is decided. Court then ordered the UCC to stop interfering with the telecasting of analogue signals until the main suit is decided. It also ordered that telecasters can now resume telecasting analogue signals and that any other aggrieved telecasters to enjoin in this case so all the issues are decided with finality.

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Nairobi-A Nairobi court has ordered two Ugandans detained for another 30 days over alleged links to a syndicate recruiting East African youth to join the ISIS terror group.

Malcolm Lukwiya and Emmanuel Oneka were arrested on Wednesday, July 1, in a hideout in Kabete, Nairobi, after allegedly sneaking into the country.

Police said the two left Uganda following the killing of Sheikh Hassan Kirya, a top Muslim cleric in the country.

They are believed to be trained assassins involved in the killing of other prominent people, police said in an affidavit presented in court on Thursday.

Police said an analysis of their phone call data revealed that they have been in constant communication with two known recruiters hiding in Tanzania and Sudan.

“The suspects are connected with a syndicate that is recruiting youth in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania who then go to Syria to join ISIS.

“They are connected with one Sebit, a Ugandan who is in Juba, South Sudan, a known recruiter who has been in constant contact with them,” Sergeant Ezekiel Luley of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) told the court.

He said the suspects were also connected to one Ali, “who is in Bukoba, Tanzania, also a known ISIS agent”.

“A suspect, Rajab Ssenabulya, an Alliance Democratic Front fighter, has been arrested in connection with the killing of the Sheikh and by the records of their phone call data it is noted that they have been in constant communication,” the ATPU officer says in the affidavit.

A heavy security detail accompanied Malcom, 20, and Oneka, 24, when they were brought before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo on Thursday.

“The first suspect just arrived from Uganda to hide in Kenya in a rented house (in) Lower Kabete fearing arrest after his accomplice was arrested,” the affidavit stated.

The court heard that they were a “security risk” and a threat to the public, owing to their alleged connection to ISIS recruiters.

Mr Luley’s affidavit stated further that Oneka’s mother is a Kenyan, now living in Lebanon.

It said both suspects are believed to be involved with Uganda’s rebel group Alliance Democratic Front, which has claimed responsibility for the killings of prominent personalities in the country.

“There is an ongoing investigation in Uganda in connection (with) the killing of Sheikh Hassan,” Mr Luley said.

The officer asked the court to treat the suspects as “dangerous to the security of the State” because “the two are trained in arms to carry out assassinations as is happening in Uganda.”

He said the ATPU intended to carry out extensive investigations stretching into Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan in order to arrest the suspect’s accomplices, who have been “aiding the two suspects.”

The suspects, who spoke with journalists, said they were “shocked” at the allegations being levelled against them.

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