US proposes 4,000-strong force of UN peacekeepers for South Sudan’s capital

The United States proposed on Sunday that the United Nations Security Council authorise a 4,000-strong force to ensure peace in South Sudan’s capital Juba and threaten to impose an arms embargo if the transitional government does not cooperate.

It circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member council that would approve a regional protection force “to use all necessary means, including undertaking robust and active steps and engaging in direct operations where necessary,” to secure Juba and protect the airport and other key facilities.

The protection force would be part of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, which has been on the ground since the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The protection force chief would report to the UNMISS commander.

The council will vote on whether to impose an arms embargo if UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reports within a month of adoption of the draft resolution that South Sudan’s transitional government is obstructing deployment of the protection force.

Heavy fighting involving tanks and helicopters erupted in Juba for several days last month between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing former Vice President Riek Machar, raising fears of a return to full-scale civil war in the world’s newest nation.

Hundreds of people were killed and the United Nations said government soldiers and security forces executed civilians and gang-raped women and girls during and after the outbreak of fighting. South Sudan rejected the accusations.