The US has imposed sanctions on four officials connected to the violence which has hit Burundi over the last months.

Hundreds of people are said to have died in violent clashes since President Pierre Nkurunziza unconstitutionally ran for a third term earlier this year and ended up being elected.

“President Nkurunziza’s pursuit of a third term in office has precipitated a humanitarian, economic, and security crisis,” said a statement by Ned Price, spokesman of the National Security Council in Washington.

“Burundi is on the precipice, but there is a clear path available to Burundi’s leaders to avoid further violence and reach a political solution.”

The sanctions are part of an executive order issued Monday singling out any individuals who “threaten peace and security in Burundi, undermine democratic processes, or who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses.”

The four individuals hit by the sanctions include two from the government and two from the opposition. They are: Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, minister of public security; Godefroid Bizimana, deputy director-general of the national police; Godefroid Niyombare, the leader of a coup attempt in May; and Cyrille Ndayirukiye, the deputy leader of the coup attempt. Their assets have been frozen and visas restricted.

The White House said in a statement  on Monday that it calls on all parties to “to live up to their commitments to participate in an internationally mediated dialogue outside of Burundi.”

The EU had already imposed sanctions on high ranking officials in early October.