WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has deployed 90 out of planned 300 military personnel to Cameroon to conduct airborne intelligence, US President Barack Obama announced in a letter addressed to Congress on Wednesday.
“On October 12, 2015, approximately 90 US Armed Forces personnel began deploying to Cameroon with the consent of the Government of Cameroon,” Obama stated. ”The total number of US military personnel to be deployed to Cameroon is anticipated to be up to approximately 300.”
The personnel deployed to Cameroon will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the region, Obama explained.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned the terrorist attacks in Chad and Cameroon attributed to Boko Haram, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and for all UN member states to cooperate actively with the local authorities during the investigation.
Obama said the US military personnel will remain in Cameroon "until their support is no longer needed."
In February, Boko Haram expanded its attacks from Nigeria to neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad prompting those countries to establish a Multi-National Joint Task Force. The terrorist group was previously associated with al-Qaeda before shifting its allegiance to the notorious Islamic State militant group earlier in 2015
