US repositions forces in Africa, readies to provide support

As the violence escalates between government forces and rebels backing the former vice president in South Sudan, the U.S. announced Monday that its military forces will be placed on standby in the region for further evacuations and other needs. "The combatant commander is repositioning his forces in the region to ensure that we've got capabilities necessary to respond to any request from the State Department," said Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Steve Warren. "I'm not prepared to give you too much more detail on what forces are being positioned and where," he added. "The last thing we want to do is tip off anyone who would do us harm as to what our intentions are." Warren did not specific whether troops will be on the ground inside South Sudan. However he confirmed that three of the four U.S. personnel wounded while attempting to evacuate Americans citizens on Saturday will be transferred to Germany from Nairobi, Kenya for further medical care. The fourth service member is not yet stable enough to be moved. 380 Americans have been evacuated from South Sudan thus far, but a senior administration official said there's no way to know exactly how many are left in the country as many never registered with the embassy, or have left on their own. Also on Monday, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald E. Booth was in the capital Juba, where he met with President Salva Kiir who was said to be "ready to begin talks with his former deputy Riek Machar to end the crisis without preconditions, as soon as his counterpart was willing," according to a statement from Booth provided via teleconference by the Department of State. "President Kiir facilitated my access to meet the group of 11 senior SPLM Sudan People's Liberation Movement, led by Kiir figures who remain detained in Juba," said Booth. "And I can report that they are secure and well taken care of." "These individuals communicated to me their desire and their readiness to play a constructive role in ending the crisis through peaceful political dialogue and national reconciliation," he added. The U.S. welcomed the participation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which encompasses eight countries in the region, including South Sudan. "I encourage IGAD to move swiftly in engaging the government and opposition forces with a view to beginning talks and ending hostilities and their underlying political causes," said Booth. "The United States emphasizes the urgency of the situation and stands ready to support these efforts as necessary," he concluded.