The US Government says it is alarmed by reports that some 650 children have been recruited into armed forces in the country since the beginning of this year.

The report was issued last month by the UN International Children’s Education Fund, UNICEF.

The Obama Administration insists that both the government and the opposition armed forces should end the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers.

It noted that the UNICEF report that government forces engaged in recruitment of child soldiers since the recent violence in Juba.

In a statement, the US State Department says the continued recruitment of child soldiers into the armed conflict is unacceptable.

“Eliminating the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers for armed groups in South Sudan is a leading priority of the United States,” partly read the statement.

“We remain committed to securing accountability for those who recruit and use children as soldiers.”

The Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, John Kirby, says it may subject some individuals responsible for the act to sanctions under the US law.

It says those individuals may also be targeted for UN sanctions.

However, the SPLA Spokesperson Brigadier Lul Ruai denied the accusation, saying the report did not indicate which area in the country the government was conducting the recruitment.