President Barack Obama has ordered five U.S. military officers to join the United Nations mission to help set up the newly-founded country of South Sudan.
A Pentagon spokesman says the officers from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines will take part in what the Pentagon calls peace operations. This includes helping with good governance, rule of law and civil affairs. But the spokesman said the mission could change over time.
South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in July and is struggling with ethnic and political turmoil.
It also has yet to settle border disputes and how to share oil revenue with Sudan. The disputes have erupted in occasional violence, raising fears that another north-south war could erupt.