At the same time, the Juba government is accusing the United States of meddling in its internal affairs. The U.S. is threatening to impose its own sanctions on South Sudan after reports of gross human rights violations during last year's ceasefire. But South Sudan maintains the U.S. is just trying to push for regime change. CGTN's Girum Chala has that story.

Following IGAD mandated CTSAMM report of horrific deeds of South Sudanese army and breach of the cessation of hostilities deal, the U.S. has threated to sanction South Sudan.

Juba has felt seriously offended. And accuses the United States of overstepping boundaries and contemplating regime change.

MARTIN ELIA LOMURO, CABINET AFFAIRS MINISTER, SOUTH SUDAN "What the Americans have done is to jump the gun as it were. Because they have regime change intentions. In fact, they behave in such a way that they do not respect the African Union. And that I think derogatory. And so from our perspective, the US has violated the agreement itself."

South Sudan now wants the region to stand behind it. President Salva Kiir even came to Addis to ask Prime minister Abiy Ahmed's backing.

MARTIN ELIA LOMURO, CABINET AFFAIRS MINISTER, SOUTH SUDAN "Cessation of hostilities deal is a legal document. It's a political, legal document. It does not assign any country, any UN member state to monitor its implementation and to verify or investigate violations. The only body that is legally quoted in the provisions of the agreement is CTSAMM. And it's supposed to investigate and follow certain procedures to establish violation and then report."

It looks like regional bloc IGAD too agrees with South Sudan. Its executive secretary Mahbud Malim told CGTN IGAD will prioritise solutions from within.

MAHBOUB MAALIM, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, IGAD "We want to take a position that works. I'm not saying any other decision elsewhere does not necessarily work and we don't want to hear about it. That is not the case but we do know that this is a regional issue and definitely regional positions matter more than any other position."

GIRUM CHALA, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA "South Sudan is now on a crossroad with IGAD's bridging proposal on the table for stakeholders to accept for peace. On the other hand threats of punitive actions from both the UN and the United States are also solid. Girum Chala, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."