Obama: May take further action to protect Americans in South Sudan

US President Barack Obama said Sunday that he is considering taking "further action" to support security of American citizens, personnel, and property in South Sudan. On December 21, about 46 additional US military personnel deployed by military aircraft to the area of Bor, South Sudan, "to conduct an operation to evacuate US citizens and personnel." In a letter to Congress, Obama stressed that "after the aircraft came under fire as they approached Bor, the operation was curtailed due to security considerations, and the aircraft and all military personnel onboard departed South Sudan without completing the evacuation." He affirmed that "the purpose of this operation was to protect US citizens, personnel, and property." "As I monitor the situation in South Sudan, I may take further action to support the security of US citizens, personnel, and property, including our Embassy in South Sudan," he noted. Obama added that "this action has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect US citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of US national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct US foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive." Meanwhile, State Department Spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement that the US, in coordination with the United Nations and in consultation with the South Sudanese government, "safely evacuated" American citizens from Bor, South Sudan. She added that the US and the UN "took steps to ensure fighting factions were aware these flights were a humanitarian mission." "The US government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of United States citizens in South Sudan. We are working with our allies around the world to connect with and evacuate US citizens as quickly and safely as possible," she affirmed. She indicated that so far, about 380 US officials and private citizens have been evacuated and approximately 300 citizens of other countries to Nairobi and other locations outside South Sudan on four chartered flights and five military aircraft, adding that "other US citizens may have left through other means." "We strongly recommend US citizens in South Sudan depart immediately," she stressed.