President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced the deployment of 47 troops to crisis-ridden South Sudan to protect the US embassy and its staff.
“Although equipped for combat, this additional personnel are deployed for the purpose of protecting US citizens and property,” Obama wrote in a letter to Congress released by the White House.
Obama also said that 130 more personnel were propositioned in Djibouti and ready to deploy if necessary. While US troops will not have a combat role, their presence will not go unnoticed by rival factions.