The international Crisis Group says the UN Security Council’s decision to blacklist six military leaders ‘undermines the renewed impetus for a coordinated international approach to peacemaking in South Sudan’.

Currently, members of the UN Security Council are seeking to adopt sanctions against six generals, three each from the government and the opposition sides.

The conflict-preventing group says the sanctions would in effect punish past wrongdoing and risk compromising ongoing peace efforts.

“Imposing sanctions on these generals at this time would also turn individuals and communities in South Sudan who currently favor a peace agreement against the international community,” wrote the Brussels-based group.

“The Security Council should hold off on this sanctions package and reframe its South Sudan sanctions strategy.”

It says none of the six named generals is responsible for the failure to reach a viable agreement.

“They are not key political decision makers and do not play major roles in shaping positions at the Addis Ababa negotiations,” it added.

The government leaders targeted are: Major-General Marial Chanuong Yol Mangok, commander of President Salva Kiir’s guard unit; sector one commander Lieutenant-General Gabriel Jok Riak; and third division commander Major-General Santino Deng Wol.

On the rebel side, the men named are: Major-General Simon Gatwech Dual, chief of general staff for the opposition forces; Major-General James Koang Chuol, commander of the opposition special division; and Major-General Peter Gadet, the deputy chief of staff of operations for the oppositions forces.

The peace process remains under the auspices of the regional body, IGAD, which has recently been augmented by a wider grouping, known as “IGAD-PLUS.