U.S. proposes 4,000 U.N. peacekeepers for Juba

The U.S. circulated a draft resolution urging the members of the United Nations Security Council to authorize the deployment of 4,000 peacekeepers in South Sudan’s capital Juba, where hundreds of people have been killed since clashes broke out between loyalists of the country's President Salva Kiir and supporters of ousted vice president Riek Machar earlier in July. The U.S. also proposed to impose an arms embargo on the country if the transitional government fails to cooperate.

The proposal follows a recent U.N. report, which accused South Sudan’s government soldiers of executing civilians and raping women and girls during and after the outbreak of conflict, writes Reuters. On Friday, East African bloc I.G.A.D. announced that South Sudan was open to the deployment of a regional force to ensure regional peace and security, a decision that was welcomed by the U.N.

The U.N.S.C. will have to adopt the new draft by August 12, when the current U.N. peacekeeping mission mandate expires in South Sudan, notes International Business Times. The council will vote to impose an arms embargo if within a month of the draft resolution, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reports that the country is not cooperating in the deployment of the protection force.