The UN Security Council has threatened to impose sanctions on Sudan and South Sudan if the two nations fail to halt the recent violence.
The resolution passed by the council calls on Khartoum and Juba to resume negotiations on disputed issues within two weeks.
Fighting in recent weeks has raised fears of a return to all-out war.
South Sudan became independent last year, but disputes with the north over territorial issues remained unresolved.
The US-drafted resolution backs an African Union road map which aims to settle the conflict and bring the two countries back to the negotiating table.
It calls for both countries to withdraw troops to their own territory and “immediately cease all hostilities”.
If either side fails to abide by the terms, then “additional measures” under Article 41 of the UN Charter – which allows for non-military sanctions – will be considered, the resolution says, according to BBC.
