On 12 August 2016 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2304 on South Sudan. The resolution creates a 4,000 strong Regional Protection Force intended to bolster the 13,000 UNMISS troops on the ground with a mandate to protect civilians. The resolution underscores that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable, and “that South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity bears the primary responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.”

Lastly, Resolution 2304 marks the 50th UN Security Council Resolution to recall member states primary responsibility to protect civilians from mass atrocity crimes.