Off the wire
• UN peacekeeping chief calls for stronger mandate for UN Mission in South Sudan  • LatAm seek to improve on London 2012 results at Rio Olympics  • Two airplanes collide in Minsk due to thunderstorm, no injuries reported  • U.S. economy expands at modest pace in June: Fed survey  • Brazil great Falcao named Internacional coach  • Bank of Canada keeps key rate unchanged at 0.5 pct  • French president congratulates Theresa May after her appointment as British PM  • West, Central Africa on alert as avian flue spreads  • U.S. stocks end mixed amid Fed Beige Book  • Nigeria names athletics team for Rio Olympics  
You are here: 　 Home

U.S. deploys 47 more troops to South Sudan to boost embassy security

Xinhua, July 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

The White House said on Wednesday the United States had sent additional U.S. military personnel to South Sudan to boost security of the U.S. embassy in the country.

"The first of these additional personnel, approximately 47 individuals, arrived in South Sudan on July 12, 2016, supported by military aircraft," said U.S. President Barack Obama in a letter to the U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

According to the letter, though equipped for combat, these additional military personnel's main mission would be to protect U.S. citizens and property amid the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan.

"Additional U.S. Army Forces, including approximately 130 military personnel currently pre-positioned in Djibouti, are prepared to provide support," the letter added.

South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 following a falling out between President Salva Kiir and his then sacked deputy Riek Machar.

Under a peace deal signed by the two under UN pressure last August, a unity government was formed in April with Machar returning to his old post.

However, tension again rose in past weeks between government troops of Kiir and forces loyal to Machar, raising concerns that the war-torn country could again descend into war. Enditem