US Secretary of State John Kerry says President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Dr Riek Machar will face individual sanctions if the peace agreement fails.

The statement comes weeks after the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission reported to the AU peace and Security Council that implementation of the peace agreement is lagging far behind schedule.

This has been blamed on the creation of 28 states and Dr Riek’s demand for the full establishment of security arrangements before he returns to Juba for the formation of interim government.

“This is a critical moment for South Sudan’s survival and it’s important for people who hold themselves up to be leaders to actually lead, Mr Kerry said during a US House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on the US State Department’s budget.

Earlier this month, Kiir appointed Machar as first vice president, raising hopes of a breakthrough after months of negotiations and failed ceasefire agreements.

According to a report released by the United Nations, both leaders are qualified for sanctions over atrocities in the fighting which has killed thousands and displaced about 2.3 million people since December 2013.

The leaders have been urged to put aside their differences and work together to end the suffering of the citizens.

“We’re very serious about that,” he said.