South Sudan has agreed to accept a further 4,000 peacekeepers from the United Nations in an attempt to avoid an arms embargo.
The announcement came after UN Security Council ambassadors met with President Salva Kiir in a rare visit to the turbulent African country.
About 12,000 UN peacekeepers are already in the country.
South Sudan also committed to implementing a hybrid court to investigate war crimes.
RELATED READING
Australia's South Sudanese community's plea for help
The Security Council had authorised the deployment last month as part of the UN peacekeeping mission already in the country, known as UNMISS, following an escalation of violence. However, it could only enter South Sudan with the government's authorisation.
"To improve the security situation the Transitional Government of National Unity gave its consent to the deployment, as part of UNMISS, of the regional protection force," the South Sudanese government and the Security Council said in a joint communique.
The statement added that the countries contributing troops to the force, UNMISS and the government would “continue to work through the modalities of deployment".
July’s bloodshed was caused by heavy fighting between troops loyal to President Kiir and forces backing former vice president Riek Machar.
The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told reporters in Juba that other humanitarian issues made the additional 4000 peacekeepers essential.
"We met with women who described a huge surge in sexual violence against women who leave the camp in order to try to get firewood, in order to be able to cook the food for their families for their children,” Ms Power said.
“As a mother, I can't imagine that choice, a choice in whether I cook for my kids or whether I risk sexual violence outside the camp. I know I would go and take that risk for my children. I think any mother would."
UN officials explained the new force will need more than two months to deploy.
President Kiir's transitional government had been hesitant to accept the peacekeepers, claiming a breach of national sovereignty.
But the President was left with no choice other than yielding to the United Nations' will, due to the threat of an arms embargo.
"The Transitional Government of National Unity commits to permit free movement to UNMISS in conformity with its mandate, including to protect civilians," according to the statement.
Kiir loyalists had also earlier argued a greater UN presence would affect what they called the "serenity" of the country.
But France's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Alexis Lamek, told UN Radio the efforts are purely focused on the safety and welfare of the South Sudanese.
"It's not about serenity. It's about the people of South Sudan and the fact that the peace agreement (needs to) be finally implemented,” Mr Lamek said.
“It was signed one year ago. I think this starts by the South Sudanese, who really want to see this agreement implemented."
It has been five years since the world's newest country gained independence, but South Sudan remains in a state of turmoil.
Nearly 200,000 people are living in UN protection sites, and hundreds of thousands more have fled South Sudan, all a result of more than two years of fighting.
Political rivalry between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar sparked the 2013 civil war, which has killed tens of thousands, with both government and rebel forces accused of widespread abuse.
The President and his former ally signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, but fighting has continued, and Mr Machar fled South Sudan in July.
Alexis Lamek has urged both sides to adhere to the fragile deal to finally end the civil war.
"It's actually terrible to see the conditions, the difficulty of this life,” Mr Lamek added.
“And we are all extremely shocked and horrified by the rapes and the violence which is continuing. And it just increases our resolve to ensure the peace agreement is fully implemented."
With AAP
