U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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19–011 2011

112th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 112–64 

NOTIFICATION THAT APPROXIMATELY 100 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO CENTRAL AFRICA TO ACT AS ADVISORS TO PARTNER 

FORCES AGAINST THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY 

AND ITS LEADER 

COMMUNICATION 

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRANSMITTING

NOTIFICATION THAT APPROXIMATELY 100 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO CENTRAL AFRICA TO ACT 

AS ADVISORS TO PARTNER FORCES AGAINST THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY AND ITS LEADER 

OCTOBER 14, 2011.—Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

ordered to be printed 


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, October 14, 2011. 

Hon. JOHN BOEHNER, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: For more than two decades, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of 

thousands of men, women, and children in central Africa. The LRA 

continues to commit atrocities across the Central African Republic, 

the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan that have 

a disproportionate impact on regional security. Since 2008, the 

United States has supported regional military efforts to pursue the 

LRA and protect local communities. Even with some limited U.S. 

assistance, however, regional military efforts have thus far been 

unsuccessful in removing LRA leader Joseph Kony or his top commanders from the battlefield. In the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009, Public Law 

111–172, enacted May 24, 2010, the Congress also expressed support for increased, comprehensive U.S. efforts to help mitigate and 

eliminate the threat posed by the LRA to civilians and regional stability. 

In furtherance of the Congress’s stated policy, I have authorized 

a small number of combat-equipped U.S. forces to deploy to central 

Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield. I believe 

that deploying these U.S. Armed Forces furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa. 

On October 12, the initial team of U.S. military personnel with 

appropriate combat equipment deployed to Uganda. During the 

next month, additional forces will deploy, including a second combat-equipped team and associated headquarters, communications, 

and logistics personnel. The total number of U.S. military personnel deploying for this mission is approximately 100. These 

forces will act as advisors to partner forces that have the goal of 

removing from the battlefield Joseph Kony and other senior leadership of the LRA. Our forces will provide information, advice, and 

assistance to select partner nation forces. Subject to the approval 

of each respective host nation, elements of these U.S. forces will deploy into Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and 

the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The support provided by 

U.S. forces will enhance regional efforts against the LRA. However, 

although the U.S. forces are combat-equipped, they will only be 

providing information, advice, and assistance to partner nation 

forces, and they will not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defense. All appropriate precautions have been taken 


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to ensure the safety of U.S. military personnel during their deployment. 

I have directed this deployment, which is in the national security 

and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my 

constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as 

Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. I am making this report 

as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93–148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action. 

Sincerely, 

BARACK OBAMA. 

Æ 


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