The government of Canada imposed sanctions Friday against three South Sudanese government and military officials accused of human rights abuses and corruption under a new law enacted in memory of late Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Canada sanctioned Paul Malong Awan former chief of general staff of the SPLA army, Malek Reuben Riak, deputy chief of defence for logistics and Michael Makuei Lueth, minister of information and communications.

The move, said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, "sends a clear message that Canada will take action against individuals who have profited from acts of significant corruption or who have been involved in gross violations of human rights."

The Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, also referred to as the "Magnitsky Act," was passed on October 18.

All three South Sudanese officials were already targeted for sanctions by the US Treasury Department in September.

Government officials in Juba could not be immediately reached for comment.